View current deadlines for voting absentee at our Current Events page.
Any qualified elector may vote by absent voter’s ballot for an election.
How do I apply?
- You may appear in person at the Board Office, apply and vote approximately 29 days prior to an election.
- You may print and complete the application for an absentee ballot available online and mail it to the Board of Elections.
- You may call the Board of Elections to request that an application for an absentee ballot be mailed to you.
The following applications are available:
- Application for Absentee Voter’s Ballot
- Application for Absentee Voter Ballot by Voter Requiring Assistance or Voter Hospitalized because of Accident or Medical Emergency
- Application by Relative for Absent Voter Ballot for Member of the Organized State Militia
- Application for Armed Service Absent Voter Ballot
- Application by Relative for Armed Service Absentee Voter Ballot
What are the deadlines for voting an absentee ballot?
- Absentee Ballot Applications must be received by the county Board of Elections office by the close of business on the seventh day before the election.
- The last day absentee voting is available at our office is the Sunday prior to an election by 5:00 p.m.
- The deadline to request an absentee ballot for voters hospitalized for medical emergencies is 3:00 p.m. on Election Day. Representatives of the Board of Elections will deliver ballots to voters hospitalized within the county.
- Voted absentee ballots must be received at the Board Office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. Ballots mailed within the country will be counted if received by the Board up to 4 days after the election, if post-marked no later than the day before the Election.
- Ballots mailed from out of the country will be counted if received by the Board up to 4 days after the election, if post-marked by Election Day, Note: Voters should request an absentee ballot as early as possible in order to meet the return deadline.
How do I return my absentee ballot?
- Absentee ballots can be mailed to the Board of Elections using regular postage.
- Absentee ballots can be hand delivered to the Board of Elections by you or a close relative.
Armed Service Absentee Voting
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?
Yes.
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 or fax a ballot to you. Application may be made in person or by mail or fax. 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:
- Your name and voting residence.
- A statement that you are serving in the U.S. armed forces on active duty or are the spouse of a dependent of a service member.
- The election for which a ballot is requested.
- Your date of birth.
- One of the following:
- Your driver’s license number; or
- The last four digits of your social security number; or
- A COPY of a different form of current photo identification (a driver’s license, state ID card, or interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV; a US passport or passport card; or a US military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card). The copy of the photo ID must include images of the front and back, except for a passport which must include the passport’s identification page.
- A statement that you are a qualified elector.
- If the election is a primary, your party of choice, or that you want to vote an issues-only ballot.
- How you want the ballot sent to you (by mail, email or fax) and the mailing address, email address or fax number to which you want your ballot sent.
- Signature of person requesting ballot.
For additional information please visit www.fvap.gov
For information regarding Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots please go to the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot Page