Voter Registration and Early Voting

MEIGS COUNTY – Voter registration will officially close as of Monday, April 8, 2014. You can still register to vote after the cutoff date, but you will not be eligible to vote in the May 6, 2014 Primary Election.

Absentee voting and/or early voting will begin on Tuesday, April1, 2014 and will continue on a daily basis at the Meigs County Board of Elections. The hours for voting are as follows: Tuesday, April 1 through Friday, April 4, 2014, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday, April 7, 2014, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (last day to register to vote); Tuesday, April 8 through Friday, April 11, 2014, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday, April 14, through Friday, April 18 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday, April 21 to Friday, April 25, 2014, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday, April 28 to Friday, May 2, 1014, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 3, 2014, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.

Any registered voter in the county may request and vote an absentee voter’s ballot (or provisional ballot beginning April 8, 2014) in person during these business hours. Registered voters may also call the Meigs County Board of Elections at 740-992-2697 to request an Absentee Application so we can send you and Absentee Ballot by mail.

There seems to be a lot of confusion as to when the Absentee Ballots are counted. Contrary to popular belief, these ballots are actually processed prior to Election Day according to Ohio law. The ballots are scanned prior to Election Day (this process can begin 10 days before the election), but not tabulated. This means that the totals are not available until election night. Absentee votes are a part of the “unofficial count” on election night. Valid absentee ballots that are received after the close of polls on Election Day (postmarked by May 6, 2014) through the 10th day after the election are included in the official canvas.

Provisional ballots are the ballots that do not get counted until after Election Day, but are included in the official canvas if certified as valid. Voting a provisional ballot means that the voter has moved within the county and changed their voting precinct or has moved from another county in the State of Ohio. If the voter has requested an absentee ballot, has no identification, refuses to provide identification or if the voter’s right to vote is challenged are just a few more reasons that a provisional ballot is required.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind all Meigs County registered voters to get out and vote either at your regular voting precinct on Election Day or at the Meigs County Board of Elections office on Mulberry Heights in Pomeroy prior to Election Day.