Election directors in Mahoning and Trumbull counties lowered their minimal expectations for turnout during this election.

Tom McCabe, director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections, had predicted turnout in his county to be 22% right before the Oct. 7 start of early voting. After seeing lower-than-expected in-person voters and a decline in requests for absentee ballots, McCabe revised his projection downward to 20%.

Stephanie Penrose, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections, predicted 22% turnout in her county before early voting began. She now expects turnout to be 17% to 18%.

The turnout projections would be the lowest for a November general election in at least three decades, and likely longer.

“It’s a shame,” McCabe said. “These are important elections, particularly

See Full Page