More Butler County voters registering for presidential election year

Ohioans have until today to register to vote in the March 17 primary election, and Butler and Warren county residents are signing up in a presidential election year at the highest level in recent memory.

As of Saturday, the Ohio Secretary of State reported 246,558 registered voters in Butler County and 158,439 in Warren County, which rivals registration numbers seen in recent presidential and gubernatorial elections, according to state data.

In the 2018 gubernatorial general election, there were more than 254,800 registered voters in Butler County and more than 160,300 in Warren County. In the 2016 presidential general election, Butler County had just more than 248,000 voters with 152,350 in Warren County.

ELECTION INFO: 6 things Butler County voters should know as early voting begins this week

Less than a third of the 405,000 Butler and Warren county registered voters are Republicans and 10 percent are registered Democrats, according to elections data. Most are unaffiliated voters. Ohio voters declare party affiliation only if they cast votes on a party ballot. They will remain unaffiliated if they chose an issues-only ballot in the primary.

Voter turnout in primary elections has been inconsistent, but most voters chose to sit out nomination contests, according to the data.

In the 2016 primary, 41.2 percent of registered Butler County voters, and 47.3 percent in Warren County, participated in the primary that supported former Ohio Gov. John Kasich over eventual GOP nominee Donald Trump. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton edged Sen. Bernie Sanders in Butler County and Ohio.

However, 18.45 percent of Butler County voters, and 23.9 percent in Warren County, participated in the 2012 primary election, and 38.5 percent and 45 percent, respectively, participated in the 2008 primary. Around 33 percent in both counties voted in the 2004 primary election.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, whose office oversees all elections, said elections are where people can “make a real impact.” He said registering to vote by today’s deadline will ensure “Ohioans will make sure their voice is heard.”

Democrats, which are the minority party in both counties, will decide their presidential nominee in the primary to face President Donald Trump in his re-election bid.

ight active candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination, but some could drop out before March 17 as nearly two dozen primary and caucuses are before Ohio’s primary.

To register, residents can visit their county's board of elections, which is 1802 Princeton Road in Hamilton for Butler County voters and 520 Justice Drive in Lebanon for Warren County voters. To register online, visit MyOhioVote.com.


FACTS & FIGURES

Here are how many people were registered to vote in past presidential primary elections, and how many are registered for the March 17 primary in Butler and Warren counties.

2004 primary: 211,492 in Butler County and 108,362 in Warren County

2008 primary: 244,188 in Butler County and 131,054 in Warren County

2012 primary: 231,396 in Butler County and 140,767 in Warren County

2016 primary: 237,224 in Butler County and 146,172 in Warren County

2020 primary: 246,558 in Butler County and 158,439 in Warren County (as of Feb. 15)

Source: Butler County and Warren County boards of election, Ohio Secretary of State

About the Author