Tuesday, March 31st, 2020
Want to cast an absentee ballot? Here's how
By William Kincaid
CELINA - Ohioans who didn't get to cast a ballot in the presidential primary election on March 17 because the polls were ordered closed can do so via an absentee ballot that can be delivered or mailed to the board of elections.
In light of extended voting opportunities, Mercer County elections officials gave a rundown of how to request and fill out an absentee ballot, particularly for people accustomed to voting in-person at their polling location on Election Day.
Those who have not yet voted must fill out and mail a ballot application to the board of election by noon April 25. The application can be printed out at
ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-ballot. If people do not have access to the internet and a printer, they can have an application mailed to them by calling the board at 419-586-2215.
Elections officials will then mail the absentee ballot to voters. Elections officials have been directed to prepay the return postage on the envelopes for the absentee ballots, according to LaRose.
"In order to vote by mail we do have to have an application first, and we have to verify your name, your address where you're registered to vote, your birthday, your identification, which type of ballot you would like to receive - a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or issue-only - and then your signature," board director Deb Sneddon said. "One item that people seem to miss frequently in this election is checking the box for which party ballot they would want. They have to understand that it is a primary election and the primary is the nomination process."
Absentee ballots must be delivered to the board of elections by 7:30 p.m. April 28 or postmarked by April 27 and received by the board of elections by May 8, according to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
