Election Advisory from Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted

COLUMBUS – Secretary of State Jon Husted announced today that county boards of elections have received nearly 24,000 requests for absentee ballots ahead of the 2014 May Primary. Secretary Husted is also reminding Ohioans that absentee voting beings today and there is just one week left to get registered to vote in time to participate in the May 6th Primary.

What’s on the Ballot

Ohioans will vote on primary races for a number of statewide and local candidates, as well as decide the outcome of a statewide ballot issue and more than 600 local issues. Voters can review the ballot language and summary for State Issue 1: Capital Improvements – General Obligation Bonds here. Information on the 614 local issues on the ballot, including school and local tax levies, bond issues and charter amendments, is available online here.

Absentee Voting by Mail

Beginning today, April 1, 2014, boards will mail out absentee ballots to those who have requested them. Voters must complete, sign and seal their voted ballots, taking care to provide the required information, including proper identification. Voted ballots must be postmarked the day before Election Day and received no later than the 10th day after the election (May 16, 2014). Absentee ballots may also be delivered in person to boards of elections no later than the close of the polls on Election Day. They may not be returned at polling locations.

Voters wanting to cast an absentee ballot by mail have until Saturday, May 3rd at noon to request an absentee ballot by contacting their county board of elections for more information, or by downloading an absentee ballot request form at MyOhioVote.com.

In-Person Absentee Voting

In-person absentee voting begins April 1, 2014, or 35 days before the election. To ensure all Ohio voters have the same amount of time to vote in person early, Secretary Husted issued Directive 2014-06, establishing uniform hours statewide to ensure all voters have fair and equal access to the ballot during 2014 elections.

The deadline to register to vote for the May 6th Primary Election is April 7, 2014 (30 days prior to the election). Voter registration forms are available at MyOhioVote.com or from local boards of elections and other designated agencies, such as libraries and BMVs. Should voters have moved since the last election, they should also act now to update their voting address; this can be completed online at MyOhioVote.com.

Check Your Registration

Not sure where to vote or if your voting address is up to date? Voters can easily check their voter registration information, including voting address and polling location, online at MyOhioVote.com. The system is populated with information from county boards of elections. It is important to note that boards may make a last minute change to a person’s polling place that would not be reflected online, but voters would be notified by mail. Questions about information contained in the online system should be directed to the county boards of elections.

Election Day Voting

Polls are open 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on Election Day. Voters choosing to head to the polls on Election Day need to remember to bring the proper form of ID and know their polling place and precinct. Voters can check their polling place and precinct and get other important voting information by visiting www.MyOhioVote.com.

Get Elections Updates and Ohio’s Virtual Voting Sticker

Ohio voters are encouraged to link with “OhioSOSHusted” on Facebook and Twitter to get elections information and updates throughout the year. Here they can also get a virtual voting sticker badge to let their friends and followers know they’ve participated in the election, whether they chose to cast their ballots by mail or in person. Facebook users simply need to “like” Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s official Facebook page to “wear” a virtual sticker on their wall. Twitter users may share their voting badge by visiting the Secretary of State’s website.

Vote in Honor of a Veteran

With Vote in Honor of a Veteran, voters may also demonstrate the pride they feel for a veteran by dedicating their vote to them. By participating in this program, Ohioans help raise awareness about the importance of voting and highlight the powerful bond between our veterans and democracy. For more information on how to participate, visit www.OhioMilitaryVotes.com