Ohioans may now begin voting absentee for the state's March 4 primary, and it's already looking like a very popular option.

State election officials say they have received more than 187,000 requests for absentee ballots.

Starting Friday, county elections boards are sending out absentee ballots to voters who mail in requests for them. Or, voters may go to their local elections office to pick up a ballot and vote in person.

Officials are seeing a surge in absentee ballot requests now that voters can ask for one without demonstrating a reason. Some counties, like Franklin County, even sent notices out to registered voters asking if they wanted to request an absentee ballot.