A near-record number of Franklin County voters for an off-year election went to the polls Tuesday, drawn heavily by ballot issues, including four school-tax requests.

Voter turnout was forecast at 20 percent, a typical rate for an election year that featured a low-key Columbus City Council race and no presidential or congressional candidates.

Instead, 30.7 percent, or 258,524, of all eligible Franklin County voters weighed in, according to unofficial election returns.

Matthew Damschroder, deputy director of the Franklin County Board of Elections, said Tuesday's turnout marks "the second-largest number of voters … in an odd-year election in the last 20 years."

In the 1991 election, 277,272 people voted.

"Early analysis indicates that Franklin County turnout on Nov. 3 was largely driven by four suburban school district levies," Damschroder said.

"Turnout in the city of Columbus, which includes city precincts that overlap into suburban school districts, was 24.8 percent, while turnout in the suburbs and townships was 41.7 percent."

The South-Western, Westerville and Worthington districts passed school levies Tuesday, according to unofficial results, but Reynoldsburg's request went down.

Also on the ballot were three constitutional amendments -- allowing casino gambling, setting up a livestock-standards board and providing bonuses for veterans -- plus races for local government offices and several other issues.

bcarmen@dispatch.com