All registered voters can cast absentee ballots early

This Friday, Secretary of State Jon Husted’s office will be sending out ballot applications to nearly 8 million Ohio voters for November’s General Election. The applications should arrive shortly after the Labor Day holiday.

“By mailing absentee applications to voters, we are making voting so convenient that they don’t even need to leave home to cast their ballot,” Husted said. “Absentee voting also helps to reduce the potential for lines on Election Day as more voters cast their ballots early.”

After filling out and returning the application to the county board of elections, voters will then have their ballot mailed to them once absentee voting begins on Oct. 10, allowing them nearly a month to cast their vote before Election Day on Nov. 6.

To vote by mail, boards of elections must receive a voter’s completed absentee ballot application by noon on Saturday, Nov. 3.

The application provided in the mailing may also be dropped off at the voter’s board of elections to vote early in person from Oct. 10 until Nov. 5, which is the Monday before the fall election. If a voter goes to the polls after having requested an absentee ballot, they will have to cast a provisional ballot.

For security reasons, each application is personalized to each registered voter at the voting address they have on file. Voters must complete the forms by providing valid identification, their date of birth and signature before returning the ballot request form to their county board of elections in the return envelope provided.

Voters who cast early ballots can also track their ballot at www.MyOhioVote.com to ensure the board of elections has received it.

The estimated cost for the mailing is $1.6 million and will be paid for primarily using funds approved by the State Controlling Board.