CLEVELAND, Ohio – Clear, sunny skies shone over the long line of voters taking advantage of the final day of early in-person voting on Sunday. But don’t worry if you haven’t made it to your local board of elections in recent weeks; you can still ensure that your vote is counted this week.

By the time the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections opened at 1 p.m. Sunday, the line extended from Euclid Avenue, behind the building on East 30th Street, and was already running west along Chester Avenue near the Interstate 90 on-ramp. hours later, the line flowed across the campus of Cleveland State University to the Washkewicz College of Engineering down the road in Chester.

Nearly 2.5 million Ohioans have already cast ballots for the 2024 general election as of Sunday afternoon, according to data collected by Ohio. Of those, nearly 1.5 million people voted early in person at one of Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections.

Nearly 1.2 million Ohioans have requested absentee ballots to be returned by mail or in person at the Board of Elections, with 980,561 returned so far. Absentee ballots must be postmarked or returned to the county election board by Monday, the day before the election. They cannot be handed in at the polling station in your area.

Car traffic Sunday around the Board of Elections reflected the crowds, as parking lot after parking lot was full.

Mike and Beth Hauser arrived from the Playhouse Square District an hour before the doors opened. The couple said they waited in line for about 50 minutes before receiving their ballot. When she left, Beth said she felt “energized.”

“As an American, you have to be part of the process because you wouldn’t enjoy what you have now if someone didn’t fight for it, if someone didn’t vote for it,” she said.

For people planning to go to their precinct to vote on Tuesday, Mike suggests they be prepared to wait in line and bring entertainment, such as a game on their phone. Turnout is generally much higher during presidential elections, so you should expect a longer wait.

Beth suggests checking out Vote411.org/Ohiowhere people can preview the ballots by learning about the candidates and issues.

Curtis Dirskell of Cleveland, who arrived at the BOE 90 minutes before the doors opened Sunday, urged people planning to vote in person on Tuesday to make sure they actually “come out and vote. Don’t wait until the last minute, get up and vote. It’s important.” he said.

If you haven’t cast your vote yet, you still have options as Tuesday’s election day draws closer. Find out more about how you can still vote here.

Where do I vote on Tuesday?

For people looking to vote in person on Tuesday, November 5, if you’re not sure where to go, you can visit your county Board of Elections website to find your precinct. A county-by-county directory is online at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-officials/county-boards-of-elections-directory/.

Another good resource page is this Ohio Secretary of State website — www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location/.

Some locations have changed recently – and don’t assume you’re meant to go to the same place to vote every year. It’s a good idea to verify the location using the link above.

You can also go there VoteOhio.govwhich provides information on voting locations, ID requirements, voting schedules, absentee ballot tracking, sample ballots, voter registration information and more.

What time are the polls open on Tuesday?

On election day, polling stations are open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Please note that if you line up to vote before 7:30 PM, you can still cast your vote as long as you remain in line.

What should I take with me to my polling station?

Ohio requires some form of photo identification, such as an Ohio driver’s license, an Ohio identification card, a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military ID, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID, or an Ohio National Guard ID.

If you don’t have one, you can cast a provisional vote. But in order for that ballot to be counted, you must return to the Board of Elections no later than four days after Election Day to provide one of the eligible IDs.

Information about changes to the voter ID law can be found online at https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/voters/2023-ohio-voting-law-changes.

How long do I have to vote absentee?

Your mail-in absentee ballot must be postmarked by Monday, November 4, or returned in person to your county election boards by the time the polls close on Election Day, which is 7:30 p.m.

Can I still request an absentee ballot?

No, that’s not possible. The deadline to request an absentee ballot was Oct. 24.