Public Notice: Special Election Columbia Precinct

PUBLIC NOTICE FROM THE MEIGS COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

May 2, 2017 Special Election for Columbia Precinct.

Voters in Columbia Precinct ONLY will be voting on the Proposed Income Tax for the Alexander Local School District.

Voter registration will officially close as of Monday, April 3, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. (last day to register to vote). You can still register to vote after the cutoff date, but you will not be eligible to vote in the May 2, 2017 Special Election.

Absentee voting and/or early voting will begin on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 and will continue on a daily basis at the Meigs County Board of Elections on Mulberry Heights at the Meigs County Annex in Pomeroy.

The hours for voting are as follows: Tuesday, April 4, 2017 through Friday, April 7, 2017, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday, April 10, through Friday, April 14, 2017, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday, April 17, 2017 to Friday, April 21, 2017, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday, April 24, 2017 to Friday, April 28, 201, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 29, 2017, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 ¬p.m.; Sunday, April 30, 2017, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the last day to vote is Monday, May 1, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Any registered voter in Columbia Precinct may request and vote an absentee voter’s ballot (or provisional ballot beginning April 4, 2017) 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 an 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 1, 2017) 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.