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Concerns over the Coronavirus have more Ohio voters than ever requesting absentee ballots in this coming General Election.
The Ohio Secretary of State announced that absentee ballots started going out into the mail on October 6, so voters should be watching their mailboxes for delivery.
To make sure your vote is counted, 21 News has put together instructions for absentee voting and tracking that ballot to make sure it has been received by your board of elections.
Each Ohio absentee ballot has three important parts, each of which must be properly filled out and returned to your county board of elections.
1. The Official Ballot
2. The Identification Envelope
3. The Return Envelope
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE OFFICIAL BALLOT:
To vote you must blacken the oval completely. Do not make and X or Y.
Use a black or blue pen only to blacken the oval.
To write in a name, you must blacken the oval completely AND write the name on the line provided. This only applies if a write-in candidate has filed with the board of elections.
If you change your mind or make a mistake on your ballot, DO NOT erase or cross out the oval. Contact your county board of elections to request a new ballot. (See board phone numbers and addresses below)
DO NOT detach the numbered stub from the Official Ballot.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE IDENTIFICATION ENVELOPE:
After filling out the Official Ballot, complete and sign the Identification Envelope. In order to have your vote counted, every highlighted area of the Identification Envelope must be completed and signed by the voter.
Be sure to fill-out ONE of the following forms of identification on the Identification Envelope:
AND
OR
If you don't have any of the above three forms of ID, contact your county board of elections for information on what other identification forms may be used, (See board phone numbers and addresses below)
Make sure you add your signature to the Identification Envelope.
Add your signature to the Identification Envelope
Insert Your Official Ballot into the Identification Envelope and seal the envelope.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE RETURN BALLOT:
Slide the Identification Envelope into the Return Envelope and seal the Return Envelope.
There are three ways to cast your ballot.
1. MAILING YOUR BALLOT TO YOUR COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE:
You must put postage in the Return Envelope if you intend to mail it.
Postage for 1 ballot is a 55 cent or a "Forever" stamp. Postage for two ballots is .70 cents.
OR
2. DELIVERING YOUR COMPLETED BALLOT TO A DROP BOX OUTSIDE OF YOUR COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS Either you or a near relative may use the drop off box. No postage needed. (See office addresses below)
OR
3. DELIVERING YOUR COMPLETED BALLOT IN-PERSON INSIDE YOUR COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS. No postage needed. (See office addresses below)
DEADLINE:
Ballots must be received by your county board of elections no later by 7:30 pm on Election Day.
LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTION OFFICES ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS
Mahoning County Board of Elections - 330-783-2474
Renaissance Building, 345 Oak Hill Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio 44502.
The absentee ballot drop box is located in the drive-thru lane. (Turn left after you enter from Oakhill Avenue)
Trumbull County Board of Elections - 330-369-4050
2947 Youngstown Rd. S.E., Warren, Ohio 44484
The absentee ballot drop box is mounted into the cement on the sidewalk directly in front of the building.
Columbiana County Board of Elections 330-424-1448
7989 Dickey Drive, Suite #3, Lisbon, OH 44432
The absentee ballot drop box is located directly outside the main office doors on the left-hand side.
TRACKING YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT ONLINE
Once Ohioans apply for an absentee ballot, they can go online and find out if the ballot has been mailed to them, and also find if their completed ballot has been received by following this link.
https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/ballot-tracking/