DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — University of Dayton freshman Tim Kelley will not be at his polling station in Columbus on March 4. Like many other Ohioans, he plans to mail in his vote.

Kelley will vote absentee in the primary election rather than travel from college here to Columbus on Election Day to vote.

"I am kind of disappointed to vote absentee," Kelley said. "I am still undecided who I will vote for."

Election officials expect a record number of Ohioans to vote by absentee ballot for the March 4 primary. This is the first presidential election under a new law that allows any registered voter to vote absentee.

Officials expect about 20 percent of registered voters statewide to vote absentee.

Steve Quillen, director of the Miami County board of elections, has already received more than 2,000 requests for absentee ballots. He predicts at least 9,000 will be requested for the November election, nearly double what was requested in 2004.

In Greene County, about 3,400 have requested absentee ballots.

"Our numbers have increased two-thirds over the 2004 primary, " said Llyn McCoy, deputy director of the Greene County Board of Elections. "It's the only surefire way to avoid a line on Election Day," she said.

Applications for an absentee ballot must be received by noon on Saturday, March 1.

Staff writer Joe Giessler and the Associated Press contributed to this report.