Registered Ohio voters begin receiving official absentee ballot request applications by mail
As Ohio voters begin receiving official absentee ballot application forms in the mail this week, Secretary of State Frank LaRose is reminding Ohioans to be vigilant when completing any absentee ballot application form that isn’t labeled as official election mail.
“As various groups and campaigns ramp up their communication with voters, every Ohioan should be vigilant when completing any forms that are not labeled official election mail or from Ohio’s trusted source for election information, VoteOhio.gov,” said Secretary LaRose.
Since 2012, Ohio has mailed absentee ballot application forms to registered voters in every even-year general election. Only after the completed application is verified by bipartisan teams at a county board of elections is a ballot mailed to a voter. In all, nearly 8 million registered Ohio voters will receive the absentee ballot application.
Ohioans who choose to vote by absentee ballot must return their completed application form to their county board of elections to receive the absentee ballot for the Nov. 5 general election. In the absentee ballot request instructions, Secretary LaRose recommends voters submit their request as quickly as possible to ensure the U.S. Postal Service has adequate time to process their absentee ballot request.
“Whether you are voting absentee, early in-person or on Election Day, Ohioans should be confident in Ohio’s three convenient and secure methods when they cast their ballot,” added LaRose. “Absentee ballots will be sent out starting October 8th and may be returned via mail with appropriate postage or hand delivered to your county board of elections.”
Download a sample of the absentee ballot request mailing that is being sent to nearly 8 million registered Ohio voters at https://www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/elections/2024/gen/2024_statewidea….
Sharing Best Practices for Voters to Consider When Using the Absentee Ballot Option
• Double-check the information on your application. Review your ballot request to ensure you have filled it out properly, including writing the appropriate date, providing your required identifying information, and signing the form.
• Include your e-mail and/or phone number. Continuing a successful practice from the 2020 general election, county boards of elections will be calling or e-mailing voters who may need to remedy information on their ballot request form or absentee ballot envelope. Including your contact information will ensure you can be reached if your ballot application isn’t filled out properly.
• Don't Wait. To accommodate necessary processing time at the county boards of elections and the time required for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver elections mail, voters should not procrastinate – fill out and mail your absentee ballot request as soon as possible.
• Track your ballot. After your ballot request is received and fulfilled by your county board of elections, voters may track their ballot at VoteOhio.gov/Track. As long as your ballot is postmarked by the day before the election and received within 4 days after the election at your county board of elections, your vote will be counted.
Absentee voting in Ohio is time-tested and has strong security checks in place. Ohioans have utilized absentee voting for more than two decades, and that has allowed Ohio to put in place both the laws and processes necessary to make absentee voting secure against fraud.
• Voter identification and signature are checked TWICE during the process by a partisan team at all 88-county board of elections.
• Voter list maintenance allows for accurate voter rolls, including the removal of non-citizen and deceased voters.
• Ballot harvesting is a felony in Ohio.
• Voters are able to track their ballot via VoteOhio.gov/Track.
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