How to request absentee ballot for Ohio’s November election
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio voters whose registration information is up-to-date can now request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 5 election.
Those in Ohio wishing to utilize mail-in voting must first submit a request form for an absentee ballot, available here, and return it by mail or in person to their county board of elections. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office will begin mailing absentee ballots on Oct. 8 to those who submitted a request, but the deadline to request a ballot is seven days before the election on Oct. 29.
After receiving and completing their ballot, Ohioans must ensure their ballot is postmarked by the day before the election, Nov. 4, in order to be counted. Voters can also return their absentee ballot in person to their county board of elections before the polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.
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Ohio voters can request their ballot for each election 90 days before the date of an election, but must complete a separate application for each they want to vote in. Voting by mail reduces the chances of lines at the polls and absentee ballots are the first votes counted on election night, LaRose’s website states, which also has a map of county elections boards.
Early voting also starts on Oct. 8 at county board of elections, allowing voters to cast ballots most days leading up to the weekend before Election Day, so long as they come with the right documentation.
Ohio requires in-person voters to have photo identification in order to vote. That includes an Ohio driver’s license, an Ohio ID card, a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military ID, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID, or an Ohio National Guard ID. Out-of-state driver’s licenses are not valid IDs.
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Here’s when you can vote early:
Oct. 8-11: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct.14-18: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct. 21-25: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Oct. 26: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 27: 1 to 5 p.m.
Oct. 28: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 29: 7:30 a.m. tp 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 – Nov. 1: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nov. 3: 1 to 5 p.m.
LaRose completed in early August an annual maintenance of the voter registration list and removed 154,995 inactive and out-of-date registrations. LaRose checked the records to confirm that each removed registration, for at least four consecutive years, has neither participated in any kind of voter-initiated activity from the registered address nor updated or confirmed their voter registration or responded to mailed notices.
Voters in Ohio can complete or update their voter registration at any time before Oct. 7 here. There are many resources on the Secretary of State’s website, that will make your trip to the polls easier:
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