Written by Rae Vuic, Government & Business Relations Coordinator, Downtown Main Library
Ohio law governing the receipt of mail-in ballots at the Board of Elections (BOE) has changed. Mail-in or absentee ballots must now be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 5, to be counted. There is no longer a four-day grace period!
Return Your Ballot Early
Even If your ballot is postmarked before Election Day, it MUST arrive on or before Election Day to count. Please allow plenty of time if you intend to mail your ballot. You can also deliver your mail-in ballot to the drop box outside the BOE, located at 4700 Smith Road, 45212 in Norwood. Visit VoteOhio.gov for a list of people who are able to return your ballot for you. The BOE began sending out mail-in ballots on April 7.
Request Your Ballot Early
If you have not yet requested your Mail-In Ballot, don’t delay! Mail-in ballot applications are available by calling the BOE at 513-946-8500, visiting VoteOhio.gov, and at all 41 Library locations. Once filled out, you can leave your form with Library staff (up until April 27) and we will make sure it gets to the Board of Elections (BOE).
Applications for mail-in ballots will be accepted NOW until 8:30 p.m. on April 28. This is a firm deadline, as the BOE needs sufficient time to ensure ballots are sent out to voters promptly.
To meet this deadline, the Library will stop accepting mail-in ballot applications by close of business hours on Monday, April 27.
Early Voting
Early, in-person voting has begun at the Board of Elections and will continue until Sunday, May 3. The BOE Primary Election Calendar has the complete list of days and times for early voting.
You can always vote in person on Election Day, Tuesday, May 5. Please visit the BOE website to find your polling location. Please note: if you request a mail-in ballot, but then decide to vote in-person, you may be asked to vote a provisional ballot.
Remember: If you are voting by mail – the earlier the better to make sure your vote counts!
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