Early voting in Ohio: Over 943,000 voted in-person or requested mail-in ballots in first week

Nolan Simmons, The Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read
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Figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office show that 943,105 voters have requested ballots since early voting began Oct. 12. Courtney Hergesheimer/ Columbus Dispatch
Figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office show that 943,105 voters have requested ballots since early voting began Oct. 12. Courtney Hergesheimer/ Columbus Dispatch

Since early voting kicked off a week ago, 943,105 Ohioans have requested absentee ballots or voted early. That's a 2.7% bump over early voting numbers at the same point in the 2018 statewide gubernatorial election, according to figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Secretary of State.

With Election Day three weeks away, 71,764 voters have already cast early ballots — a sharp increase from 2018, during which 41,152 early ballots were cast. Of the total requests for absentee ballots made, 871,341 were sent to county boards of elections by mail, about 5,000 fewer than in 2018.

A guide to voter rights in Ohio: What you need to know before you cast a ballot

Voter turnout in Ohio during the 2018 general election, the last year a governor race was on the ballot, was 55.72%. Voter turnout during the 2020 general election, dominated by the presidential race, was 73.99%.

Early voting began Oct. 12.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Nov. 5, three days before the election. Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 7, and received by a county board of elections by Nov. 18.

The U.S. Postal Service estimates that it may take two to five days for mailed ballots to be delivered. Ohioans are responsible for covering postage when returning absentee ballots in the mail — no more than two "Forever stamps" covers the return.

Any ballot mailed without sufficient postage will still be delivered. The U.S. Postal Service's policy is not to delay the delivery of a completed absentee ballot because of insufficient or unpaid postage, and often, county boards of elections foot the bill for unpaid postage.

Once your ballot is in the mail, you can track it at voteohio.gov/track.

Absentee ballots can also be delivered in-person to county boards of elections until polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

Early voting at Ohio's 88 county boards of elections offices ends at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7. See below for the list of remaining early in-person voting hours:

  • Oct. 19-21: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

  • Oct. 24-28: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

  • Oct. 29: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

  • Oct. 31: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

  • Nov. 1-4: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

  • Nov. 5: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

  • Nov. 6: 1-5 p.m.

  • Nov. 7: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Early voting in Ohio jumps from 2018, absentee ballot requests stable