[NEohioPAL] Vote by Mail - Absentee Voting in Ohio

[Mary L. Davis]

Please VOTE

https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-voting-by-mail/#gref

ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL
All Ohio voters whose registration information is up-to-date have the
opportunity to vote in any election from the convenience of their own homes by
requesting an absentee ballot. Absentee voting has many benefits -- You can
vote early, it is convenient, it reduces the chance of lines at the polls on
Election Day, and absentee ballots are the first votes counted on Election
Night. Voters need only fill out and return an application and their absentee
ballot will be mailed to them so they may make their selections at their
leisure and return their ballot to the board of elections ahead of Election
Day.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is three days before the election
in which you want to vote, but voters can submit their application any time.
If mailed, absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before the election
in order to be counted. You can also return your absentee ballot in-person to
your county board of elections before the close of the polls at 7:30pm on
Election Day.

You can request your ballot for each individual election beginning on January
1 or 90 days before the date of an election, whichever is earlier, but you
must complete and submit a separate application for each election in which you
want to vote. Your request must be received by your local county board of
elections by noon the third day before the election (usually a Saturday).
However, you should submit your request as far in advance of the election as
possible to ensure there is sufficient time for the board to mail you a ballot
and for you to timely return that ballot.

STEPS TO REQUEST AND VOTE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT:
Complete the absentee ballot request form*.
Absentee Ballot Request Forms
https://www.ohiosos.gov/publications/#abr
English Absentee Ballot Request Form (PDF)(opens in a new window)
Spanish Absentee Ballot Request Form (PDF)(opens in a new window)
Fill out an HTML request form that generates a PDF which you may print and
mail to your county board of elections.

Once you have completed your application by providing all of the required
information print and sign it.
Mail the request form back to your own county board of elections.
Wait to receive your ballot in the mail from your county board of elections.
If you have questions about your absentee ballot request, you should call your
county board of elections or you can track the status of your ballot request
as well as your voted absentee ballot through the Voter Toolkit.
Return your voted ballot. You can send it by U.S. Mail or deliver it in person
to your county board of elections, but the return envelope containing your
marked ballot must either be received by your county board of elections prior
to the close of the polls on Election Day, or postmarked no later than the day
before the election and received by the board of elections no later than 10
days after the election.

To make sure your absentee ballot is counted, it must be received by your
board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day OR be postmarked by the day
before Election Day.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) estimates that it may take two to five days for
your voted absentee ballot to be delivered to your board of elections by
mail.

If you are returning your voted ballot during the week before Election Day,
you should take it to USPS no later than the day before Election Day and
ensure it receives a postmark as follows:

If you use a postage label purchased at a USPS customer service window or
vending machine, the date on the label is the postmark. This is the
USPS-recommended way to postmark your ballot.
If you use postage stamps, ask that it be postmarked.