LISBON — Columbiana County Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco said she’s not expecting much voter turnout based on what she’s seen so far with the early voting.

“We’ll be lucky if we get 12 percent,” she said Thursday.

As of Wednesday, the board of elections received 581 absentee ballots and there were 871 voters who cast ballots in the office through early voting.

There’s still an opportunity to vote early at the election board office, 7989 Dickey Drive, Lisbon.

The remaining schedule for early in-person voting includes 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, which is the last day of early voting.

On Election Day, voters who didn’t use an absentee ballot or who didn’t do early voting must visit their polling location to cast a ballot. The polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

For voters who requested an absentee ballot and plan to return the ballot by mail, the ballot must be postmarked no later than Monday, the day before the election. For military personnel/overseas voters, the ballot must arrive no later than four days after the election. Absentee ballots can also be dropped off in person at the office or at the 24/7 drop box outside the office no later than 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

For many voters, the only items on the ballot will include the 1% sales tax renewal for Columbiana County, the .75-mill Children Services levy renewal and a state bond issue.

Republican ballots countywide will have the contested Columbiana County Municipal Court judge race between Judge Kelly Linger and Danielle Menning who are both seeking the Republican nomination.

Republican voters in Salem will have the contested Salem Council At Large race with four candidates vying for nominations for three seats. All Salem voters will have a Salem parks 1-mill levy renewal and Salem .25 percent income tax renewal on their ballots.

East Palestine voters will see a road levy renewal, Southern Local school district voters will see a levy renewal and Calcutta precinct voters will see two local liquor options for Walmart.

Regarding the turnout, Fusco said she had nothing to go on for the last similar primary, which would have been May 2021 when there was no primary because there were no contested races or issues. In May 2017, the primary was issues only.

When asked if her prediction was just a guess, she said “it’s an absolute hypothesis, basing it on what I’m seeing in the lobby.”

Fusco said board personnel will be hosting poll worker training today and Saturday, adding that if anyone is interested in becoming a poll worker, call the board of elections office at 330-424-1448 to inquire and get trained.

“We’re always looking for extra poll workers,” she said, noting the pay is $130 for the day for the election.

The board will be meeting at 9:30 a.m. Monday to finalize details for the election on Tuesday. To learn more about the elections, visit the county Board of Elections website at columbiana.boe.ohio.gov.

Monday at 4 p.m. is the deadline for any Independent candidates to file for the November election. Independents who have filed so far include incumbent John Torma for East Liverpool President of Council, incumbent Tom Beagle for East Liverpool Council At Large and incumbent Jeff Kreefer for East Liverpool Third Ward Council, Patricia Kronenberg and incumbent Susan Temple for Lisbon Council and Cora Lewis for Lisbon Board of Public Affairs.

mgreier@mojonews.com