Vote By Mail (Absentee Voting)

Absentee voting begins 35 days before a primary or general election and ends the day before the election. You can request an absentee ballot beginning Jan. 1 of the year of the particular election in which you wish to vote and must separately request an absentee ballot for each election in which you wish to vote. If you want the ballot mailed to you, your board of elections must receive your properly completed application by noon on the Saturday before the election. Once absentee ballots are available for voting, an absentee voter may receive and return the ballot in person at the county board of elections office, or he or she may receive and return the absentee ballot by U.S. mail.

Am I eligible to vote by absentee ballot?
Any qualified Ohio voter may request an absentee ballot without stating a reason. The ballot must be applied for in writing. If you are properly registered to vote, you must submit your written request to the board of elections of the county in which your voting residence is located. Your request must contain certain information and your original signature. You may, but are not required to, use the application form prescribed by the Ohio Secretary of State to request an absentee ballot: print the absentee ballot request form.

For your absentee ballot to be counted, it must be received by your board of elections as follows:

• If cast from anywhere in the United States, whether returned in person or by mail, your ballot must be received by your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day; and
• If properly returned from out-of-country, your ballot must be received by your county board of elections (please click here for the county boards of elections directory) not later than the 10th day after the election, except for the presidential primary, when your ballot must be received not later than the 20th day after that election.

For additional information on absentee voting, please click here.