Ohio Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Requirements | Summaries Electoral Systems and Technologies

Ohio%Cheat%Sheet%

Registration+Requirements++

- You%are%may%to%register%to%vote%in%Ohio%if%you%meet%all%the%

following%requirements:%

o [You%are%a%citizen%of%the%United%States,%at%least%

18%years%old%on%or%before%Election%Day,%a%

resident%of%Ohio%for%at%least%30%days%

immediately%before%the%election%in%which%you%

want%to%vote%(i.e.%since%October%9,%2022),%not%

incarcerated%for%a%felony%conviction%under%the%

laws%of%Ohio,%another%state,%or%the%United%

States,%have%not%been%declared%incompetent%

for%voting%purposes%by%a%probate%court,%have%

not%been%permanently%denied%the%right%to%vote%

for%violations%of%the%election%laws.]%

- Register%to%vote%online,%in%person%or%by%mail.%By-mail%

applicants%may%use%the%National%Mail%Voter%Registration%

form,%available%in%English%or%Spanish%%

- Applicants%must%sign%the%voter%registration%form.%%

- To%register%online,%applicants%will%need%to%provide%the%

following:%[Ohio%driver’s%license%or%Ohio%identification%

card%number,%Name,%Date%of%Birth,%Address,%Last%four%

digits%of%Social%Security%number]%

o If%an%applicant%is%missing%any%of%this%

information,%they%will%need%to%apply%by%paper.%%

- Applications%can%be%returned%in%person%to%any%of%the%

following:%

o [Any%county%board%of%elections;%Ohio%Secretary%

of%State’s%office;%BMV%or%Deputy%Registrars;%

Office%of%designated%agencies,%including:%The%

Department%of%Job%and%Family%Services,%The%

Department%of%Health,%

Mental%Health%and%Addiction%Services;%The%Department%

of%Developmental%Disabilities;%Opportunities%for%Ohioans%

With%Disabilities;%Any%state-assisted%college%or%university%

that%provides%assistance%to%disabled%students;%Any%county%

treasurer’s%office,%public%high%school%or%vocational%school,%

public%library]%

- If%updating%a%current%Ohio%voter%registration%and%

returning%a%completed%change%of%name%and/or%address%

form%by%U.S.%Mail,%one%must%send%it%to%their%county%board%

of%elections%or%the%Secretary%of%State’s%office.%%

- Most%registered%voters%in%the%state%are%also%able%to%

VoteOhio.gov.%

- Properly%completed%voter%registration%forms%must%be%

postmarked%(if+submitted+by+mail)+or+received+(if+

delivered+in+person)+30+days+before+Election+Day+(this+

year++October+11,+2022).%%

- Anyone%returning%a%completed%voter%registration%form%

for%another%person%must%return%the%completed%form%to%a%

board%of%elections%or%to%the%office%of%the%Secretary%of%

State.%%

- Forms%must%be%returned%the%earlier%of%1)%within%10%days%

after%the%registration%form%is%completed,%or%2)%by%the%

voter%registration%deadline%before%an%election%if%the%

registration%form%has%been%signed%more%than%24%hours%

before%the%registration%deadline.%%

- After%receiving%a%properly%completed%voter%registration%

form,%the%county%board%of%elections%must%process%the%

registration%and%promptly%notify%the%registrant%by%mail%of%

[precinct,%polling%location%and%the%identification%

requirements%for%voting]%

- The%board%must%register%the%applicant%to%vote%not%later%

than%20%business%days%after%receiving%the%application%and%

promptly%mail%a%notice%to%the%applicant’s%voting%

residence%address%confirming%that%they%are%registered%to%

vote,%identifying%their%voting%precinct%and%the%location%of%

their%precinct,%and%stating%the%identification%

requirements%for%voting.%%

- If%an%applicant%does%not%receive%a%notice%that%the%

registration%was%accepted%or%rejected,%they%should%

contact%their%county%board%of%elections%before%Election%

Day%to%determine%if%the%board%received%the%application.%

- If%the%voter%registration%deadline%falls%on%a%day%when%

offices%of%the%Secretary%of%State%and%county%boards%of%

elections%are%closed,%the%deadline%is%extended%to%the%

succeeding%business%day%when%the%office%is%open.%

Vote+By+mail/Absentee+Requirements+

- All%Ohio%voters%whose%registration%information%is%up-to-

date%have%the%opportunity%to%vote%in%any%election%from%

the%convenience%of%their%own%homes%by%requesting%an%

absentee%ballot.%%

- Absentee%ballots%are%the%first%votes%counted%on%Election%

Night.%%

- Voters%need%only%fill%out%and%return%an%application%and%

their%absentee%ballot%will%be%mailed%to%them%%

- Ohioans%have%three%options%for%requesting%to%vote%by%

mail.%They%may:%[Print%a%request%and%mail%it%to%their%

county%board%of%elections,%Call%their%county%board%of%

elections%and%request%an%application%be%mailed%to%them,%

Make%their%own%absentee%ballot%request%and%mail%it%to%

their%county%board%of%elections]%

o A%self-prepared%application%must%include%the%

following%information:%[%Name,%Legal%signature,%

The%address%at%which%one%is%registered%to%vote;%

Date%of%birth;]%

- One%of%the%following%items%showing%proof%of%

identification:%[Ohio%driver’s%license%number%(begins%with%

two%letters%followed%by%six%numbers);%The%last%four%digits%

of%Social%Security%number;%or%A%copy%of%a%current%and%

valid%photo%identification,%a%military%identification,%or%a%

current%(within%the%last%12%months)%utility%bill,%bank%

statement,%government%check,%paycheck%or%other%

government%document%(other%than%a%notice%of%voter%

registration%mailed%by%a%board%of%elections)%that%shows%

the%voter’s%name%and%current%address.%[A%statement%

identifying%the%election%for%which%they%are%requesting%an%

absentee%ballot;%they%are%a%qualified%elector;]%

**If%the%ballot%is%to%be%mailed%to%a%different%address%than%w here%

registered,%the%address%to%which%it%should%be%mailed.%

- The%deadline+to+request+an+absentee+ballot+by+mail+is+

noon+on+the+Saturday+before+Election+Day+(November+5,+

2022).%%

- If%mailed,%absentee%ballots%must%be%postmarked%by%t he%

day%before%Election%Day%(November%7,%2022)%to%%be%

counted.%%

- Voters%can%also%return%absentee%ballots%in-person%to%their%

county%board%of%elections%before%the%close%of%the%polls%at%

7:30pm%on%Election%Day.%%%

- If%a%member%of%the%uniformed%services%or%a%voter%out side%

of%the%United%States,%the%ballot%must%be%mailed%not%later%

than%12:01am%on%Election%Day%at%the%place%where%they%

are%located.%%

**No+voted+ballot+may+be+returned+to+a+board+of+elections+by+fax+

or+e-mail.+If+a+voted+ballot+is+returned+by+fax+or+e-mail,+it+will+not+

be+accepted,+processed,+or+counted.+

- Those%who%do%not%vote%their%absentee%ballot%and%instead%

decide%to%go%to%their%assigned%polling%place%on%Election%

Day%must%vote%a%provisional%ballot.%%

- Any%Ohio%voter%with%a%qualifying%disability%under%the%

Americans%with%Disabilities%Act%can%request%an%absentee%

ballot%to%complete%through%the%accessible%absentee%

voting%system.%%

- If%a%voter%or%their%minor%child%is%in%the%hospital%on%

Election%Day,%they%must%submit%a%properly-completed%

and%signed%request%to%the%board%of%elections%of%the%

county%in%which%their%voting%residence%is%located%by%3pm%

on%Election%Day.%%

- If%they%or%their%minor%child%is%hospitalized%in%the%same%

county%where%they%are%registered%to%vote,%two%

representatives%of%the%board%of%elections%can%deliver%the%

ballot%to%them,%wait%while%they%mark%the%ballot,%and%

return%their%voted%ballot%to%the%board%office.%%

o To%be%eligible%under%this%provision,%they%or%their%

minor%child%must%be%confined%in%a%hospital%

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Ohio Cheat Sheet

Registration Requirements

You are may to register to vote in Ohio if you meet all the following requirements: o [You are a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election in which you want to vote (i.e. since October 9, 2022), not incarcerated for a felony conviction under the laws of Ohio, another state, or the United States, have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court, have not been permanently denied the right to vote for violations of the election laws.]
Register to vote online, in person or by mail. By-mail applicants may use the National Mail Voter Registration form, available in English or Spanish
Applicants must sign the voter registration form.
To register online, applicants will need to provide the following: [Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number, Name, Date of Birth, Address, Last four digits of Social Security number] o If an applicant is missing any of this information, they will need to apply by paper.
Applications can be returned in person to any of the following: o [Any county board of elections; Ohio Secretary of State’s office; BMV or Deputy Registrars; Office of designated agencies, including: The Department of Job and Family Services, The Department of Health, Mental Health and Addiction Services; The Department of Developmental Disabilities; Opportunities for Ohioans With Disabilities; Any state-assisted college or university that provides assistance to disabled students; Any county treasurer’s office, public high school or vocational school, public library]
If updating a current Ohio voter registration and returning a completed change of name and/or address form by U.S. Mail, one must send it to their county board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office.
Most registered voters in the state are also able to register and update their addresses online at VoteOhio.gov.
Properly completed voter registration forms must be postmarked (if submitted by mail) or received (if delivered in person) 30 days before Election Day (this year October 11, 2022). - Anyone returning a completed voter registration form for another person must return the completed form to a board of elections or to the office of the Secretary of State. - Forms must be returned the earlier of 1) within 10 days after the registration form is completed, or 2) by the voter registration deadline before an election if the registration form has been signed more than 24 hours before the registration deadline. - After receiving a properly completed voter registration form, the county board of elections must process the registration and promptly notify the registrant by mail of [precinct, polling location and the identification requirements for voting] - The board must register the applicant to vote not later than 20 business days after receiving the application and promptly mail a notice to the applicant’s voting residence address confirming that they are registered to vote, identifying their voting precinct and the location of their precinct, and stating the identification requirements for voting. - If an applicant does not receive a notice that the registration was accepted or rejected, they should contact their county board of elections before Election Day to determine if the board received the application. - If the voter registration deadline falls on a day when offices of the Secretary of State and county boards of elections are closed, the deadline is extended to the succeeding business day when the office is open. Vote By mail/Absentee Requirements
All Ohio voters whose registration information is up-to- date have the opportunity to vote in any election from the convenience of their own homes by requesting an absentee ballot.
Absentee ballots are the first votes counted on Election Night.
Voters need only fill out and return an application and their absentee ballot will be mailed to them
Ohioans have three options for requesting to vote by mail. They may: [Print a request and mail it to their county board of elections, Call their county board of elections and request an application be mailed to them, Make their own absentee ballot request and mail it to their county board of elections] o A self-prepared application must include the following information: [ Name, Legal signature, The address at which one is registered to vote; Date of birth;]
One of the following items showing proof of identification: [Ohio driver’s license number (begins with two letters followed by six numbers); The last four digits of Social Security number; or A copy of a current and valid photo identification, a military identification, or a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document (other than a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections) that shows the voter’s name and current address. [A statement identifying the election for which they are requesting an absentee ballot; they are a qualified elector;] **If the ballot is to be mailed to a different address than where registered, the address to which it should be mailed.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is noon on the Saturday before Election Day (November 5, 2022 ).
If mailed, absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day (November 7, 2022) to be counted.
Voters can also return absentee ballots in-person to their county board of elections before the close of the polls at 7:30pm on Election Day.
If a member of the uniformed services or a voter outside of the United States, the ballot must be mailed not later than 12:01am on Election Day at the place where they are located. ****No voted ballot may be returned to a board of elections by fax or e-mail. If a voted ballot is returned by fax or e-mail, it will not be accepted, processed, or counted.**
Those who do not vote their absentee ballot and instead decide to go to their assigned polling place on Election Day must vote a provisional ballot.
Any Ohio voter with a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act can request an absentee ballot to complete through the accessible absentee voting system.
If a voter or their minor child is in the hospital on Election Day, they must submit a properly-completed and signed request to the board of elections of the county in which their voting residence is located by 3pm on Election Day.
If they or their minor child is hospitalized in the same county where they are registered to vote, two representatives of the board of elections can deliver the ballot to them, wait while they mark the ballot, and return their voted ballot to the board office. o To be eligible under this provision, they or their minor child must be confined in a hospital

Ohio Cheat Sheet

because of an accident or unforeseeable medical emergency. Early Voting Rules and Dates

The day after the close of voter registration (after October 11, 2022), all registered voters may request and vote an absentee ballot in person – using the same process described above – at their county board of elections or early voting center, as designated by the county.
Voters must bring identification to the Identification may include [current and valid photo identification, a military identification, or a copy of a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document (other than a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections) that shows the voter’s name and current address, or last four of voters Social Security number with a provisional ballot] Key Voter Suppression issues by state
Cuts early voting hours
Removes the last Monday of Early Vote
Severely limits ballot drop boxes by: o Allowing only one drop box location per county, no matter the county population/size
Banning the use of drop boxes until 10 days before an election
Limits access to absentee ballots
It stops the state from accepting ballot requests 10 full days before an election.
Forces most Ohioans to pay for postage on absentee ballots / ballot request forms
HB 294 will institute discriminatory barriers that make it harder for certain Ohioans to vote. The bill will disproportionately impact: o [Military voters, Low-income, Black and brown, College students, Ohioans with disabilities, Housing insecure, Rural voters] Poll Monitoring/Poll Watching Requirements
Must be a registered voter in the precinct;
can be [appointed by a political party or a group of five or more candidates; one person per precinct]
can’t be [a candidate; carrying a firearm or deadly weapon, a uniformed peace officer, state patrolman, member of an organized militia or any other person in uniform] Canvassing
County officials canvass local election returns no later than the 21st day after the election and transmit results to the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State canvasses and declares results for state and federal offices (except state executive offices) no later than 10 days after receipt of county canvass results.
The State General Assembly canvasses and declares results for state executive office during the first week of regular session. The Secretary of State issues certificates of election. (Ohio Code 3505-32; 34; 35; 38) (also see Ohio 2022 Election Calendar).
A recount (automatic) in a statewide election takes place where the votes cast for the declared winner does not exceed votes cast for the defeated candidate by a margin of 1/4 of 1% or more of the total vote.
A recount (automatic) takes place in a district election where the votes cast for the declared winner does not exceed votes cast for the defeated candidate by a margin of 1/2 of 1% or more of the total vote. o The recount must take place within 10 days of declaring the automatic recount. (3515.011)
A candidate may request a recount with the relevant county or counties. o The recount must take place within 10 days of the request. o The candidate must pay for the recount in each precinct unless: the votes for the candidate in a precinct increase by more than 4%, or the candidate is declared elected in that precinct. (3515.02; 04; 07) Voter Challenges
Ohioans may check their voter information by performing a voter information search on the Secretary of State’s website https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/?page= o If the search does not return the information, contact their county board of elections to check on the status of the registration. o Perform this search before the deadline to register to vote so that, they have time to submit a new form before the deadline.
If already registered to vote but has moved within Ohio and/or changed their name, they must update their voter registration by submitting a new voter registration form.
Ohio’s voter registration form also serves as a change of address and change of name form. It can be submitted through the mail or in person. o For change of address purposes only, may use the Secretary of State’s Online Change of Address System at www.VoteOhio.gov.
If the form is incomplete, the board will send a notice of the information necessary to update the registration.
If the valid change of name and/or address form is received or postmarked by the voter registration deadline, then they will be eligible to vote a regular (rather than a provisional) ballot at that election.
One may also update their registration after October 11, 2022, until Election Day, but this may require voting a provisional ballot.
If already registered to vote but has changed their name after the voter registration deadline, they may appear at their polling location on Election Day, provide proof of legal name change, complete SOS-prescribed form 10-L and cast a regular ballot. Ballot Curing for Provisional Ballots
Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you. o You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 7th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Notice is mailed to voters whose ballots were rejected o Voters have until the seventh day after the election to resolve issue. Does the state have any jurisdiction under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act?
Yes
Hispanic [Cuyahoga County]

Ohio Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Requirements, Summaries of Electoral Systems and Technologies

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Ohio Cheat Sheet

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