Columbus – Early voting in the former battleground state of Ohio Tuesday began and Fox News Digital spoke with the state's Republican lieutenant governor, who explained why Republicans are encouraging voters to vote early.
“I want to do what President Trump asked us to do, get your vote, because we want everyone across the country and in the state of Ohio to get out there and vote early to make sure their voices, their votes and then the campaign to make sure that in the future, they focus resources on people who may not have voted and did not vote,” Ohio Lieutenant Governor John Husted told Fox News Digital on the first day of early voting, Tuesday, at the Franklin County Election Board.
“It’s a very important part of the campaign strategy.”
2024 campaigns from former presidents and the Republican National Committee (RNC) were announced earlier this year. They introduced their “Swamp the Vote USA” effort, a change from 2020, when Trump initially spoke out against in-person voting and mail-in ballots.
Moreno, a Republican candidate for the Ohio Senate, voted for Brown on inflation-reducing legislation that is part of a $25 million buyout.
Fox News Digital spoke with Lieutenant Governor John Husted on the first day of primary voting in Ohio. (Fox News Digital)
“Whether you vote absentee, by mail, in person or on Election Day – we will guarantee your vote,” Trump said. Posted online Sometimes, “Just vote! They are all good options. The way to win is to flood them with votes!”
Republican voters are generally known to vote on Election Day, while Democrats often have the edge when it comes to early voting efforts. Husted told Fox News Digital that people should vote however they feel most comfortable, but that early voting should be encouraged.
“If you want to vote on Election Day, that’s fine,” Husted said. “But we are encouraging people who want to vote early because once they know through the campaign that you voted, they can dedicate their resources to finding people who didn't vote. The election system here in Ohio is a place where we do that. Voting is easy and cheating is hard and when you do it early, you know the system is working for you and you can encourage your friends and neighbors to get out and do it.”
Husted continued: “I think it's very important that Republicans not let Democrats take the lead through early voting. Think about it. If you vote early, if something happens on Election Day, there's a hurricane that hits you, a storm. It's going to happen, when you do it before the vote, you're sure it's there, it's going to count and nothing happens between now and election day.
NRA targets Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown who buys 7-figure ad: 'Vote, your life depends on it'
Ohio Senate candidate Republican Bernie Moreno, left, and incumbent Democrat Sherred Brown (Getty Images)
While Ohio has not been seen as a presidential election battle state for many years, the Buckeye State has been home to several critics. Domestic races and a Senate race that could potentially shift the balance of power in Congress.
Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno, a Republican running in the Senate race against incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, rallied supporters outside the Franklin County Board of Elections on Tuesday and praised Trump's plan to “flood the vote.” .
A spokesperson for the Franklin County Board of Elections told Fox News Digital that more than 4,000 Ohioans voted early at a polling location in Columbus on Tuesday.
“The election is in the hands of the voters and regardless of whether they want to support me or my opponent, President Trump or Kamala Harris, it is their civic duty to show up and vote,” Moreno said. “Our elections in Ohio are secure. They are safe. On November 5th, we will have a result and everyone will agree on that result. I encourage everyone to vote early. Wait for that vote. Spread your vote.”
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People show up to vote during early voting. (Christopher Mark Juhan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Moreno continued: “Today is a beautiful day, but we don’t know what November 5th will be like. If you don't vote, you will be part of the problem. We need to make sure you have a voice. Listen, vote as early as you can, like a Republican. It's good for us because we don't have to text, email, knock on your door – if that alone doesn't inspire you. day, here's a very simple equation for where we are now, for the United States Senate, and your vote is a vote for me. The first thing I will do as a senator, let's go down. then we fired Chuck Schumer.”
Paul Steinhauser of Fox News Digital contributed to this report
