Voters in Hamilton County, Ohio, turned out at a significantly higher rate than neighboring Northern Kentucky in last Tuesday’s general election, raising a familiar question.
What could Kentucky do differently to get more people to the polls?
While turnout increased across Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties compared to the 2022 midterm election, none came close to Hamilton County’s approximately 56% turnout, according to unofficial results as of Nov. 5.
Campbell County had the highest turnout in Northern Kentucky at approximately 47%, up from 44% in 2022. Boone County followed at 41%, compared to just under 40% four years ago (Boone County’s turnout percentage increased, but the actual number of ballots cast decreased), while Kenton County recorded 37%, up from 36%.
Across the river, Hamilton County election officials are pointing to a combination of convenient voting locations, expanded early voting opportunities and a growing preference for casting ballots in person before Election Day.
Those approaches offer potential lessons for Northern Kentucky, where early voting is also becoming increasingly popular, but residents have fewer days to take advantage of it.
The differences don’t necessarily explain why more Hamilton County residents vote. Competitive races, political engagement and the accuracy of voter registration rolls can all affect turnout. But Hamilton County’s experience provides a closer look at how election officials can reduce some of the obstacles residents face when casting a ballot.
Making voting more convenient
About a decade ago, the Hamilton County Board of Elections relocated its offices from downtown Cincinnati to Norwood, a more geographically central location.
The former downtown location presented challenges for voters, particularly those trying to find a place to park. The Norwood facility, located just off the Norwood Lateral, offers free parking on its campus and in a nearby parking garage.
The county also operates a roughly 15,000-square-foot early voting center capable of processing more than 800 voters per hour, according to Sherry Poland, director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
“We’ve been seeing our early in-person rising ever since we moved our facility,” Poland said.
The county has also emphasized making the voting experience as efficient and welcoming as possible.
“We really stress here at the board customer service,” Poland said. “We believe if they have a positive experience when casting their vote or really conducting any business with the board, they may be more likely to have confidence in our work and, therefore, trust in the outcome of the election, even if it’s not what they had hoped for.”
The facility receives positive feedback from voters, she said, and its size allows election workers to accommodate large numbers of people without sacrificing convenience.
Although the county has seen increased use of early in-person voting since relocating, that doesn’t necessarily mean the move caused overall turnout to rise. Some voters may simply be choosing to cast their ballots earlier rather than waiting until Election Day.
Still, the experience demonstrates how practical changes, such as providing parking and reducing wait times, can make participating in elections easier.
More opportunities to cast a ballot
One of the clearest differences between Ohio and Kentucky is the amount of time residents have to vote early.
Ohio begins early in-person voting 28 days before Election Day, compared to Kentucky’s three days of no-excuse early voting on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday immediately preceding the election.
Ohio’s early voting schedule does not provide voting every day during that period, but it includes extended weekday hours and weekend opportunities. For the 2026 general election, Ohio voters could cast early ballots on two Saturdays and one Sunday.
That flexibility is something former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson has suggested Kentucky consider expanding.
Grayson told LINK nky that adding more early voting days, particularly a second Saturday, could make participation easier without necessarily requiring several additional weeks of voting.
“Having that full period might increase the margins a little bit more,” Grayson said.
Kentucky introduced its three-day early voting period in 2022, meaning this year’s election provides another opportunity to compare participation during similar election cycles.
And Northern Kentucky voters are increasingly using the option.
Kenton County Clerk Gabrielle Summe said approximately 7,000 more people voted before Election Day this year compared to 2022, when roughly 10,000 voters cast early ballots.
Campbell County Clerk Jim Luersen reported an increase of about 2,400 early in-person voters compared to the previous midterm election.
In Boone County, Clerk Justin Crigler said early voting likely set a record for a midterm election.
“It was either first or second; it’s close,” Crigler said.
The increases suggest Northern Kentucky residents are taking advantage of the opportunities already available to them. Whether adding more days would encourage people who otherwise wouldn’t vote, rather than simply allowing existing voters to cast their ballots earlier, remains a separate question.
What Hamilton County’s numbers show
Hamilton County’s experience this year also illustrates how voter behavior can change without major changes to election laws.
Poland said the county received approximately 20,000 fewer mail-in ballots than it did during the 2022 midterm election. At the same time, early in-person voting increased enough to offset that decline.
The shift was not unique to Hamilton County. Poland said election officials elsewhere in Ohio reported similar increases in early in-person voting.
During Hamilton County’s November 2025 election, early in-person voting and voting by mail were nearly evenly split. This year, the number of early in-person voters was almost double the number who voted by mail, Poland said.
Despite the growing popularity of early voting, most Hamilton County voters still cast their ballots on Election Day. The county’s overall participation was also particularly strong.
Poland said approximately 345,000 ballots had been cast as of Nov. 5, surpassing the roughly 343,000 ballots cast during the November 2018 midterm election.
That election had previously established a county turnout record of approximately 57%. Hamilton County could approach that percentage again once its results are finalized, she said.
However, the comparison comes with an important qualification.
Hamilton County entered this year’s election with approximately 616,000 registered voters, a higher number than usual. Poland said the state was unable to complete its regular voter registration maintenance process this year because of the timing of notices sent following Ohio’s unusual 2022 election schedule. As a result, the county’s registration rolls may include more people who have moved away or are otherwise inactive than they ordinarily would.
That can make the turnout percentage appear lower even when more people actually cast ballots. It’s one reason election officials caution against relying solely on turnout percentages to determine whether participation is improving.
What could work in Northern Kentucky?
Hamilton County’s higher turnout doesn’t mean Northern Kentucky could replicate those results simply by opening a larger early voting center or extending the voting period.
The region faces challenges that go beyond election administration.
Grayson has previously pointed to Northern Kentucky’s position within the Cincinnati media market as one reason residents may receive less information about their local elections.
“One challenge is Northern Kentucky is part of a large media market where the vast majority of residents are not Kentuckians,” Grayson said.
Unlike Hamilton County, where Cincinnati elections can dominate local news coverage, Northern Kentucky’s races compete for attention in a market primarily serving Ohio residents. That can make it more difficult for voters to learn about candidates, understand local government and even know when elections are taking place.
Competition also plays a significant role.
Following Tuesday’s election, Northern Kentucky’s county clerks pointed to contested races as a factor in increased participation.
“Just looking at the numbers where there was competition, those really drove up the numbers,” Summe said.
Crigler similarly identified Boone County’s judge/executive race and local elections in Florence and Union as sources of voter interest.
Another difference is when the two states elect their governors. Kentucky holds gubernatorial elections in odd-numbered years, while Ohio holds them during federal midterm elections, including this year. The presence of a statewide governor’s race on Ohio’s ballot could have contributed to Hamilton County’s higher turnout, making it difficult to determine how much of the difference can be attributed to voting accessibility.
Those factors complicate attempts to measure the effects of election reforms.
Grayson said turnout initiatives should be evaluated across multiple election cycles because competitive candidates, campaign spending and other circumstances can cause participation to fluctuate independently of voting laws.
“I think you have to look over a long period of time to try to iron out a little bit of those variables of competition,” he said.
The growth in early voting on both sides of the Ohio River suggests voters are increasingly taking advantage of opportunities to cast ballots before Election Day. Hamilton County’s experience shows how election officials can make that process more convenient through accessible facilities and expanded voting hours.
Whether those changes bring new voters to the polls, rather than simply changing when existing voters cast their ballots, remains a question Northern Kentucky could look at as it considers ways to increase participation.
Nathan Granger’s reporting contributed to this story.
