GETTING READY — Jefferson County Board of Elections officials Frankie DiCarlantonio and Becky Klinesmith reviewed paperwork Monday ahead of Tuesday’s general election. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — Polls opened across the nation this morning for what’s expected to be a high-turnout election. As area residents prepared to cast their ballots Monday, Jefferson County Board of Elections member Frankie DiCarlantonio described what voters should expect.

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today, DiCarlantonio said. Anyone who is in line to vote by 7:30 p.m. will be permitted to do so.

Voters should report to their assigned polling locations, of which there are 34 in Jefferson County, DiCarlantonio said. If unsure of their precinct, voters can visit VoteOhio.gov or call the board of elections office.

In order to vote, individuals must bring an unexpired, state-issued photo ID. This could include a driver’s license, passport, ID card, military ID or veteran’s ID. Those without an ID can receive a free interim ID from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, DiCarlantonio said.

Jefferson County Board of Elections Director Bob Gale has estimated that 31,000 total votes will be cast for this election, which will ask Jefferson County residents to choose among candidates for federal, state and local offices, vote on an amendment to the state constitution and decide the fate of several levies and issues.

All Jefferson County voters will be asked to decide the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board’s replacement levy for mental health, alcohol and drug addiction programs. Additionally, all voters can weigh in on Ohio’s Issue 1, a citizen-led initiative that would replace elected officials in the Congressional redistricting process with a citizen-composed commission.

Early voting in Jefferson County began on Oct. 8 and was available periodically through Sunday, amounting to 23 days, or 216 hours, of early voting.

As of Monday, the Jefferson County Board of Elections had received 8,694 in-person absentee ballots, beating out the 2020 general election’s in-person numbers by 560 ballots.

This year’s mail-in numbers fell short of 2020, with 5,690 main-in ballots received as of Monday and 10,610 received in 2020. DiCarlantonio credited that difference to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were 419 outstanding mail-in ballots in the county as of Monday. Those can no longer be mailed, DiCarlantonio said, and must be delivered in person to the board of elections office — on the first floor of the Jefferson County Tower Building, 500 Market St., Steubenville — by 7:30 p.m. today.

To be counted, mail-in ballots must have been postmarked by Monday at the latest and be received by the board no later than four days after election day.