benjamin tolbert, too.erend was set to deliver the eulogy an hour before the grave side service when the phone rang in his pocket. >> i got a call my first cousin had passed. he was like my big brother. we were raised up in the house together. he was that person that gave me strength. and i get a call. and we didn't -- he became ill quite quickly. >> reporter: he says this is how it was for months, people managing their own grief as they were helping neighbors get through theirs, giving a hug or a shoulder to cry on felt deadly. >> if i were in your position, i would also be questioning god. like, why? why is this happening? >> when death comes into our ranks, especially those who we love so much, and we're very close to, there's some questionings. there's some questions that might come up. but because of the spiritual belief and faith that we have in christ, we know that we may endure for a night, but joy is coming in the morning. but to tell you i didn't question some things myself? i wouldn't be telling

>> tolbert: i know this election is more important.e have watched our president, to me, act a plumb fool for four years. >> pelley: are you voting for joe biden or against donald trump? >> tolbert: mmmm. is that both? can it be a both answer? >> pelley: it can be any answer you want it to be. >> tolbert: it can be both. i'm definitely voting against donald trump. but i do believe, more so than i probably thought about hillary clinton, i do believe joe biden could do the job. >> pelley: that doesn't sound like enthusiasm, but ohio is seeing historic early voting. so far, two million have voted, about double the usual. ron smetana couldn't wait for his absentee ballot. >> ron smetana: we received it on the 14th of october. we dropped it off on the 14th of october. and on the 15th of october, i checked the website and it had already been scanned and approved for counting. >> pelley: smetana has a lot in common with his friend, steve plogsted-- both are retired army leiutenant colonels, both life- long republicans. how did you vote in 2016