Early Voting Off to Strong Start in Miami County
Vol. III, No. 137 - Early voting in 2025 is outpacing early voting from 2021.
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Compared to four years ago, early voting is off to a stronger start in Miami County this fall, with the first few days showing a noticeable jump in turnout. The comparison to 2025 is a bit more apt to 2021 than to 2023, where two statewide constitutional amendements were on the ballot that drove high voter turnout.
According to county election records, 380 voters have already cast ballots at the courthouse during the first four days of early voting. That’s a 50 percent increase over the same period in 2021, when 253 people had voted early.
The higher early participation suggests that local interest in this year’s ballot is stronger, even without a countywide race at the top of the ticket, even though there are two county wide tax measures, a tax levy for the Board of Developmental Disabilities and the county-wide Bridge Levy.
Much of that energy appears to be concentrated in Troy, where 143 early votes have been cast so far—nearly four out of every ten ballots in the county. Piqua voters have been slower to turn out, with 16 votes so far, while Tipp City shows a more moderate pace with 36.
Breaking the numbers down by school district gives another way to read where early civic engagement is strongest. The Miami East School District accounts for 45 early votes, a number that stands out considering its smaller population base compared to Troy. Bethel Local has reported 21 votes so far, while the Milton-Union district has seen 20. Those figures may reflect the local issues and levy questions appearing on different district ballots, suggesting targeted community interest rather than countywide momentum.
This is especially true in Piqua, a community that has been long plauged by voter apathy, with chronically low voter turnout. So far, only 16 votes have been cast in the community in the community of 20,000 people, where in Tipp City, a community nearly half the size of Piqua has over double the early vote turnout with 36 votes cast.
Early votes tend to typically build as the early voting period continues. The first week often draws the most committed voters—those who plan ahead or prefer the courthouse voting experience. As mail ballots begin circulating and Election Day nears, daily totals generally rise across the board.
Still, the early surge may say something about the tone of local politics heading into November. Four years ago, voters appeared slower to engage until the final weeks of early voting. This time, the pace has quickened early, with Troy residents in particular taking advantage of the first available days to weigh in; this may spell trouble for incumbents on the ballot as challenging candidates tend to drive energy to the polls.
Whether the overall turnout ultimately surpasses 2021’s totals will depend on whether this early momentum holds. But for now, Miami County’s numbers show a community that’s tuned in, attentive to its local ballot, and already making choices that will shape the next few years of local government.
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