| For your absentee ballot to be counted, it must be received as
follows: 1. If cast from anywhere in the United States and you return your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked* the day before the election AND received by the Board of Elections no later than 10 days after the election. (*Postmarked does not include a date marked by a postage evidence system such as a postage meter.) 2. If you return your ballot in person or if a near relative delivers it to the board for you, it must be delivered to the Board of Elections no later that the close of polls (7:30 p.m.) on Election Day. 3. If you are a voter outside the United States, your ballot envelope must be signed and postmarked* by the close of polls (7:30 p.m.) on Election Day AND received by the Board of Elections not later that the 10th day after a Special (February or August) or General (November) Election (or not later than the 20th day after the presidential Primary (March) Election. (*Postmarked does not include a date marked by a postage evidence system such as a postage meter.) Please note: Extra postage may be needed when mailing completed absentee ballots. If you are unsure of the postage cost, please check with the U.S. Postal Service. |
| A written application for absentee ballots is needed and must contain ALL of the following: |
| 3. The address at which the voter is registered to vote; |
5. ONE of the following: (a) The voter's Ohio driver's license number or number from voter's State of Ohio photo identification; (this number is located left hand side, middle of card beginning with two letters) OR (b) The last four digits of the voter's social security number; OR (c) Copy of a current and valid photo identification, military identification, or a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document (other than a voter registration notification mailed by a board of elections) that shows the voter's name and current address. |
| 6. A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested; |
| 7. A statement that the person requesting the ballot is a qualified elector; |
| 8. If the request is for a primary election ballot, the elector's party affiliation; and |
| 9. If the elector want the ballot to be mailed, the address to which it shall be mailed. |
| If any of this information is not provided, the application cannot be processed. |
| Note: In the case of medical emergencies, the absentee ballot request deadline is 3 p.m. on Election Day. A properly completed and signed request must be submitted to the Board of Elections. To be eligible under this provision, you must be confined in a hospital because of an unforeseeable medical emergency. A close relative may deliver and return your ballot if you so request. State the relative's name and relationship on the application. The voter still must sign the application. Two representatives of the Board of Elections can also be requested to deliver the ballot to Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton. |
| Who may vote using the armed service absentee ballot? |
If you are
serving in the U.S. armed forces on active duty outside the state, you,
your spouse and dependents may vote by an armed service absentee ballot
if you otherwise meet the requirements for voting in Ohio. Your spouse and
dependents may vote by an armed service absentee ballot only if they left
Ohio to be with you. |
| What
is the voting residence of a service member? |
| That place
where you resided when you first entered the service, unless you later establish
a voting residence elsewhere in Ohio. |
| Must armed service absentee voters register? |
| No. |
| How do I apply for an armed service absentee ballot? |
You, your
spouse or a close relative may request the Board of Elections to
mail a ballot to you. Application may be made in person, by mail, fax,
or e-mail.
(If you are a member of the U.S. armed forces or organized state
militia, you may fax absentee ballot request. The board must receive
your request by noon on the Saturday before the election. You may
request that the board fax your ballot to you, but you MUST return your
marked ballot and the original request form so that the Board of Elections has your original signature. If you do not mail the originals, your ballot will not be counted.) An Ohio application form
or a federal post card application may be used for convenience, but neither
is required; however, all mail requests must include the following information: |
| 1. The voter's name; |
| 2. The voter's signature; or the signature of the person requesting the ballot and the relationship to the armed services voter; |
| 3. A statement that you are serving in the U.S. armed forces or are the spouse or dependent of a service member; |
| 4. The voting residence address and the length of time voter has resided at the address; |
| 5. The voter's date of birth; |
5. ONE of the following: (a) The voter's Ohio driver's license number or number from voter's State of Ohio photo identification; (this number is located left hand side, middle of card beginning with two letters) OR (b) The last four digits of the voter's social security number; OR (c) Copy of a current and valid photo identification, military identification, or a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document (other than a voter registration notification mailed by a board of elections) that shows the voter's name and current address. |
| 8. A statement that the person requesting the ballot is a qualified elector; |
| 9. If the request is for a primary election ballot, the elector's party affiliation; and |
| 10. If the voter wants the ballot to be mailed; the address to which it shall be mailed. |
| If any of this information is not provided, the application cannot be processed. |
Site maintained by The Ottawa County Board of Elections |