TOLEDO, Ohio — Because of the coronavirus stay-at-home order, Ohio's Presidential Primary Election originally set for March 17 has been extended to April 28. All voters wishing to participate will need to apply for an absentee ballot, and voters can print out that form by following the link here: www.VoteOhio.gov
Ballots must be returned to the board of elections, either postmarked by mail on April 27 or hand-delivered by 7:30 p.m. April 28. Mailed-in ballots must arrive at the local board offices no later than May 8 in order to be counted in the official count, which is conducted at least 10 days after the April 28 election date.
But, what if you don't have a printer to make your absentee ballot request?
- You can call your local board of election and request a ballot be sent to you. The directory of all 88 Ohio county boards of election - with website addresses and phone numbers - is located here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-officials/county-boards-of-elections-directory/
- And if you wanted to, you can make an absentee ballot request yourself in writing.
According to the secretary of state, voters who cannot print their own form can also write the following information on a blank sheet of paper and mail it to their board of elections:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Full registration address, including county
- Address where the ballot should be mailed if different from your registration address
- One of the these: Ohio driver’s license number, last four of your Social Security number or include a copy of an acceptable form of ID and write that “I’m requesting an absentee ballot for the March 17th Ohio Primary.”
- Indicate if you want a Democratic, Republican, Libertarian or Issues only ballot (choose only one)
- Sign it
- Date it on the day you sign it
- Phone number (optional, but suggested)
- Email address (optional but suggested
There will be limited in-person voting at boards of elections for those with disabilities and those who don’t receive mail at their home or other location on April 28 only. You'll want to check with your local board of election. The directory of all 88 Ohio county boards of election - with website addresses and phone numbers - is located here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-officials/county-boards-of-elections-directory/