Ohio absentee ballot applications sent out as Election Day draws closer

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — Absentee ballot application forms are currently being mailed to registered voters throughout Ohio.

Election Day is inching closer and closer, and early voting is getting started in Ohio. Registered voters will begin seeing absentee ballot application forms in the mail, according to the Ohio Secretary of State office.

Voters who wish to vote by absentee ballot must complete the form and return it to their county board of elections, either in-person or by mail. Secretary Frank LaRose urges voters to return the form as quickly as possible to ensure the U.S. Postal Service has enough time to process the request.

Absentee ballots will be mailed out to voters starting Oct. 8. Ballots must be postmarked by the day before the election and received within four days after the election to be counted.

The Secretary of State office shares tips when using the absentee ballot option:

• Doublecheck all information on the ballot before sending it in to make sure it’s correct.
• Include your email or phone number with the form, so your county board of elections can easily contact you if there are any issues with the application.
• Don’t wait to mail back the absentee ballot request — sending the form in soon will ensure the ballot can be processed in time for the election.
• Track your ballot at VoteOhio.gov/Track to keep an eye on the progress throughout election season.

LaRose also encourages Ohioans to stay vigilant when completing forms with personal information on them.

“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 LaRose.

Since 2012, Ohio has mailed absentee ballot application forms to nearly 8 million registered voters in every even-year general election. Completed applications are verified by bipartisan teams at local boards of elections before ballots are mailed to voters.

Absentee voting is one of three options for Ohioans during the Nov. 5 general election. Voters can also vote in-person on Election Day or during early in-person voting, beginning Oct. 8.

Click here to find the full election season schedule and more information on voting options.

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