CANTON − Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is encouraging supervision at absentee ballot drop boxes.
Here's what's expected in Stark County as the Nov. 5 election approaches.
Under Ohio law, voters can cast their ballots early by mail by requesting an absentee ballot. Absentee voters also have the option to drop off their absentee ballot at a drop box, typically located outside the county board of elections office.
This may be a good option if it is too late for the ballot to be returned in the mail, since mail ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received no later than four days after the election. An absentee ballot can be returned via the drop box up until polls close on Election Day.
The drop box will see a few changes this year.
The Stark County Board of Elections approved a plan to station bipartisan teams at the ballot box during periods of high-volume turnout.
Their role will be to enforce Ohio law on who is able to drop off another person's absentee ballot. Those dropping off ballots on behalf of someone else will be required to fill out an attestation form that certifies they are complying with state law.
Under Ohio law, a family member dropping off a ballot on someone else's behalf must be related to the voter by one of the following designations: spouse, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of the whole or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece.
Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act makes it so a non-family member can deliver a ballot to the drop box for a disabled voter. A disabled voter can have any assistant deliver their ballot as long as they are not the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union.
Stark County Board of Elections Deputy Director Regine Johnson said the board is still waiting on more information from the secretary of state's office on some details, and there could be changes to the plan as a lawsuit plays out in Ohio Supreme Court.
The suit challenges the directive by LaRose to require those delivering ballots to sign an attestation, arguing it hurts those helping disabled voters and could create longer wait times for voters.
Lawsuit: Those helping Ohio voters with disabilities should be able to use drop boxes
As a result, the Stark County Board of Elections has approved a plan but anticipates it could change.
Stark County's plan: Bipartisan teams, traffic control, attestation form
During peak times, the board will have extra staff to assist with curbside voting and to direct voters to available parking spots. At least one bipartisan team will be stationed at the ballot drop box during peak hours.
The drop box will be a drive-through system. The bipartisan teams will provide and collect attestation forms at the drop box for family members or assistants dropping off ballots on behalf of someone else.
Peak hours schedule:
- Oct. 8 - Nov. 3 during the hours of in-person early voting
- Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Election Day, Nov. 5, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The drop box will remain open 24/7. Attestation forms will be placed in a waterproof container at the drop box when no bipartisan team is on duty, and directions will be provided via a sign at the drop box.
The board has adopted a plan to enhance security and reduce traffic congestion in conjunction with state and local departments. The plan includes signs, barriers, parking lot striping and the deployment of law enforcement and board of elections workers.
If traffic is backing up while people fill out attestation forms at the drop box, additional lanes may be opened. These lanes will all need to be staffed by a bipartisan team.
Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Election watch: Bipartisan teams to monitor Stark County ballot drop box
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