Joe Biden wins Ohio primary, a test of mail-in voting – CBS News

Joe Biden has won Ohio’s presidential foremost, which became carried out by mail, CBS News projects. As of 8: 30 p.m. ET, Biden had picked up 74 of Ohio’s 136 pledged delegates. The rest of the delegates could be awarded as more votes are counted. To this level, Biden has won 72% of the vote — 623,186 of the 860,347 ballots counted at this level, in line with Ohio’s secretary of declare. Bernie Sanders won 17% toughen — he dropped his presidential command in April, weeks after the first became in the starting up to take area.

Governor Mike DeWine delayed the first, which had been scheduled for March 17, amid considerations in regards to the coronavirus. Tuesday’s outcomes had been a take a look at of the skill of states to take care of elections, in conjunction with the upcoming standard election. Several states had been attempting to position together final-minute vote-by-mail primaries amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

DeWine delayed the Ohio foremost hours ahead of polls had been area to birth on March 17, citing considerations in regards to the spread of the virus. Voters had been encouraged to as an alternative vote by mail with a cut-off date of April 28. Extra ballots are aloof expected — these postmarked by April 27 need to be bought by Might possibly well possibly 8 to be counted. Voters had been furthermore allowed to power to their county board of elections to their ballotin a actual drop box ahead of 7: 30 p.m. on Tuesday.

DeWine’s announcement introduced on upright challenges and some confusion when a take in the starting up denied his ask to extend the first. DeWine then stated that polls could well be closed due to the a effectively being emergency, with the convey coming from the Ohio effectively being director. The Ohio declare legislature then handed legislation that prolonged the vote-by-mail cut-off date to April 28.

Some in-particular person voting on Tuesday became allowed, although completely to folk with disabilities or these with out permanent mailing addresses. Ohio Secretary of Enlighten Frank LaRose launched Monday that over 1.9 million Ohioans had requested a vote-by-mail ballot, and over 1.4 million had already solid their vote.

“In a topic of weeks, we have carried out one thing that’s taken other states years to create — change into our declare into one able to voting entirely by mail,” LaRose stated in a statement.

At a press convention on Tuesday, LaRose stated the U.S. Postal Provider suggested him that the postal service became handing over 17,000 ballotenvelopes to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, which is dwelling to Cleveland, and 10,000 ballotenvelopes to the Hamilton County Board of Elections, the put Cincinnati is found.

“That is no longer what any of us had envisioned months previously for a model we wanted to flee this election. Nonetheless Ohio’s boards of elections, these bipartisan teams of very dedicated and patriotic folk in all 88 counties, grasp risen to the occasion,” LaRose stated.

In Franklin County, the put Columbus is, 725 folk had voted in particular person as of three p.m. Tuesday afternoon, in line with Board of Elections public files officer Aaron Sellers. Sellers suggested CBS News that the county Board of Elections bought about 18,500 ballots at its actual dropbox and delivered from the submit area of job, leaving round 25,000 ballots outstanding.

Several states grasp delayed their primaries or resorted to vote-by-mail due to the considerations in regards to the pandemic. Contemporary York on Monday canceled its foremost altogether. Balloting rights activists grasp furthermore identified as for Congress to present more funding for states to put into effect elevated web entry to to vote-by-mail.

Jack Turman contributed to this tale.