FRANKLIN CO., Ohio (WCMH)–Early voting for the 2016 primary election has ended in Franklin County.

According to the Franklin County Board of Elections, nearly 45,000 absentee ballots were requested. That figure includes more than 16,500 ballots which were cast in person.

Board spokesman Ben Piscitelli said roughly 30,000 absentee ballots were cast in the 2012 primary election.

“It’s though to compare one primary to another because when you go back to 2012, President Obama was unopposed on the Democratic ticket, so you really only had one side voting,” said Piscitelli. “This one, as contentious as it’s been on both parties, it’s been reflected in the turnout there.”

Some voters expressed confusion on the Republican ballot, where there is an option to vote for a presidential candidate twice.

Ohio Secretary of State John Husted clarified the confusion in a written statement.

“Traditionally, Ohio Republicans have awarded at-large delegates and awarded district delegates,” wrote Husted. “So there were two contests on the ballot. In late 2015, The Republican Party decided to change how it awards delegates in Ohio to a winner takes all process. The Republican Party chairman has clarified that the rules for awarding delegates will be based on the winner of the at-large delegate contest. Both contests will be counted. But the awarding of delegates is based solely on the first question. Essentially we are required by law to have both contests, but the awarding of delegates under Republican Party rules is based in the first question.”

Polls open on Tuesday at 6:30 a.m., and they close at 7:30 p.m.