Ohioans can still vote early or mail-in: Here’s what you need to know

Ohioans are urged to take advantage of early voting and mail-in voting — in the short time remaining that those options are still available. 

The opportunities allow residents to avoid busy polling locations during the upcoming primary election on March 17. 

Due to the coronavirus, nearly 150 polling places inside nursing homes have been relocated. (You can find a map of affected locations here.) 

Also, a vast number of college students in Ohio may face voting difficulties on Election Day with institutions canceling in-person classes or ordering students to leave campus. 

Early voting and mail-in ballots, still available for the next few days, remain viable options for these people and all Ohioans. Here is what you need to know:

Early In-Person Voting

Early in-person voting is available at each of the 88 county boards of elections offices with the following schedule:

• Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 14: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, March 15: 1-5 p.m.
• Monday, March 16: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Absentee (Mail) Voting

Ohioans can request an absentee ballot for next week’s election, but the application must be received by your respective county board of elections by Saturday, March 14 at noon. 

You can find your county’s board of elections information here. 

If the application is submitted in time, voters will receive their absentee ballots. It must be filled out and then mailed back to their county board of elections. To have the vote count, the ballot must be postmarked by Monday, March 16. (Absentee voters also can drop off their ballot at the board of elections office through 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.)

Read more about the absentee voting by mail process here. 

Provisional Ballot

Ohioans also have the option of requesting a provisional ballot if trying to vote away from home. Learn more about provisional ballots on the Secretary of State website.