MARYSVILLE — Union County voters are getting a much earlier jump on the November election. The Union County Board of Elections recorded 1,770 ballots received during the first four days of early voting, Oct. 6–9 — more than double the 823 ballots received during the first four voting days in 2022, an increase of 115 percent.
The early electorate looks different this time around. Independent voters are more engaged than they were in the last gubernatorial election: they account for nearly 32 percent of ballots received this year, up from about 21 percent in 2022. The Democrats’ share rose from about 22 percent to 25 percent, while the Republican share fell from about 58 percent to 44 percent — even as the party’s total ballot count grew substantially. Thousands of mail ballots remain in the pipeline.
How voters are casting ballots varies sharply by affiliation. Among independents, the board recorded 2,127 mail applications against 495 in-office voters — about 81 percent of that group’s activity by mail. Republicans were almost evenly split, with 739 mail applications and 719 in-office voters, while Democrats leaned slightly toward voting in person, with 406 in-office voters and 355 mail applications.
Meanwhile, Marysville City Council members will spend extra time together today, starting with a special 3:30 p.m. budget retreat at Council Chambers, 209 S. Main St., to review proposed 2027 municipal spending.
