Ohioans who request a by-mail absentee ballot for the November 3, 2020, general election can still choose to vote early in person, according to Cleveland.com and a directive issued Monday by Ohio secretary of state Frank LaRose.
If you have requested but not returned an absentee ballot, you can visit your county’s early voting location during the early voting period and ask to vote in person. An election worker will verify that your outstanding absentee ballot has in fact not been returned and will record that original ballot as “spoiled.”
The election worker will then ask you for your uncompleted absentee ballot. But don’t worry if you forgot it at home.
"A voter does not need to return their original absentee ballot in order to cast a regular in-person absentee ballot," per Mr. LaRose’s directive. The election worker just has to ask.
Keep in mind: You cannot ask to vote in person on election day if you previously requested a by-mail absentee ballot.
Per Cleveland.com, "if a voter shows up on election day after requesting but not returning an absentee ballot, they will have to cast a provisional ballot, so elections workers can double check they aren’t voting twice."
In-person early voting for the November 3 general election begins Tuesday, October 6. A complete list of early voting dates and hours is available from the Franklin County Board of Elections.
Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Monday, November 2, and received by the board of elections by Friday, November 13.
A mark from a postage meter is not a postmark. Voters returning absentee ballots by mail should consider having their ballots hand-canceled at a post office branch.
Absentee ballots can also be dropped off in person at the board of elections through 7:30 p.m. on election day.
Additional information on voting in Ohio is available from the secretary of state at VoteOhio.gov.
Posts
