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People with disabilities look to cast ballots in-person as early voting numbers soar


FILE - Voting sign at the Franklin County Board of Elections. (WSYX/WTTE)
FILE - Voting sign at the Franklin County Board of Elections. (WSYX/WTTE)
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One week away from Election Day and the number of voters casting ballots at the Franklin County Early Vote Center is setting records.

More than 5,200 people voted in-person on Monday and lines were long despite the drizzle on Tuesday.

According to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, 2.2 million Ohioans have already cast their ballot, surpassing early and absentee voting totals for the entire 2016 election.

Most of the waits at Franklin County BOE ranged from 30-40 minutes on Tuesday. Some of those who were standing in line to cast ballots had canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.

Lucille Langley,76 of Reynoldsburg, said she had no idea until she got the vote center that she could case a ballot curbside in her car.

“I thought this is wonderful. Thank goodness somebody has some forethought to organize all this and to get people in and out,” Langley said.

Disability Rights Ohio is advocating for disabled voters and said you don’t need documentation to use curbside voting. Kerstin Sjoberg, Executive Director said, “as long as you say you need to use curbside voting because you have a disability or you are afraid about going inside for exposure (to COVID 19) or maybe don’t give a reason at all but simply say you need curbside voting, that should work.”

Gayle Tennenbaum said workers spotted her in a wheelchair and allowed her to come inside the curbside entrance. Tennenbaum said she had planned to vote absentee but her ballot didn’t come in the mail.

“I kept saying I don’t want to vote provisional. I want to vote and make sure it counts. It’s too important.”

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