Crisita Sanchez Herrera of Youngstown places her ballot into the scanner Tuesday at the Mahoning County Board of Elections. Tuesday was the first day of early voting in Ohio and turnout in Mahoning County is expected to be between 72% and 74% based on previous presidential election years.

Largely driven by the presidential election, several people came out for the first day of early voting in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

“I was excited to vote on the first day,” William Walker of Struthers said Tuesday. “I was looking forward to this. The way things are going, I wanted to get out and vote as soon as I could.”

Walker, a retired Teamster, said he was proud to vote for Republican Donald Trump for president.

“He believes in the same issues I do like illegal immigration, making Americans safer and helping young people afford a home,” Walker said.

Gerald Shimp of Petersburg, wearing a “Dead Heads for Kamala” shirt, said: “I’m excited to cast my ballot for (Democrat Kamala Harris). She represents truth and dignity and turning the page. We need to come together as a country. There’s too much divisiveness in the country.”

Michael Kimock of Youngstown said he voted in person because he doesn’t “trust” mail-in ballots.

“This country is in terrible trouble with the current leadership and I want to make a change,” he said. “The presidential race primarily brought me out. Border security is my main concern. These immigrants coming in illegally are our downfall.”

While Kimock voted for Trump, he said he voted for Republicans and Democrats down ticket.

“I vote for the person, not the party,” he said.

Melvin North of Youngstown said: “I vote for the lesser of the two evils, but I’d take a blade of grass over (Trump). You cannot believe this guy cares about anyone but himself.”

Crowds at the Mahoning and Trumbull boards of elections formed quickly with hundreds of people voting Tuesday, the first day of in-person early voting.

“It’s been very strong all day,” said Stephanie Penrose, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections. “The line at times was halfway around the building. I expect a line all day, every day. I don’t think it’s going to let up.”

Penrose said: “It’s always busy on the first day, but I don’t expect it to slow down for the rest of early voting.”

Tom McCabe, director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections, said the office “has been busy all day. Everyone is pushing the early vote. Both sides are pushing it. Democrats were always good with it and now Republicans are doing it.”

Greg Pocza brought his mother, Linda, both of Poland, to the Mahoning early voting center for the first day.

“She wanted to make sure she got it done early and quickly,” he said. “The presidential election is what brought us out.”

The two voted for Trump.

“The country is going wrong with an exclamation point,” Linda added.

Michael and Mary Moran of Poland also voted Tuesday.

“We always early vote,” Michael said. “Since I was a child and my father was able to collect disability, I’ve been a lifelong Democrat. I’m unabashedly Democratic.”

Andrea Cummings of Lowellville said she crossed over from being a Democrat to become a Republican in 2016 because of Trump and was proud to vote for him again.

“I like that he is for the people,” Cummings said. “He cannot be railroaded or bought. I believe that he is an honest person who cares about the American people. He’s not perfect. I don’t agree with the way he expresses himself, but I believe in what he did when he was president and I believe he can do it again.”

Charles A. Griffin of Youngstown, who was carrying a Democratic slate card, said he made it a point to vote early.

“I’m 91 years old, and I’m always proud to vote,” he said. “I’ve been a lifelong Democrat and wanted to support them.”

In Trumbull County, P.J. Donahue of Niles wanted to make sure he, as a voter, was heard.

“It’s so important to vote early to make sure that your voice is heard as soon as possible, to be able to express how you’re feeling,” Donahue said.

Mary Smith of Brookfield, a Democrat, emphasized the importance of backing local candidates.

“The people in Washington, D.C., need local people and state people to succeed,” Smith said. “We need to make people aware of who’s running, locally and statewide.”

The Mahoning County early voting center is at the Oakhill Renaissance Place, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown. It is in the same building at the board of elections.

Early voting in Trumbull County is at the board of elections, 2947 Youngstown Road SE, Warren.

Early in-person voting is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today to Friday as well as Oct. 14 to 18.

It is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21 to 25, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26 and 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 27.

Early in-person voting on Oct. 28 is 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29, and 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.

It is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day, and 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day. No early voting will take place on Monday, Nov. 4 as poll workers prepare for the election.

Polling locations on Nov. 5, Election Day, are 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Staff writer Brandon Cantwell contributed to this report.