Absentee voting has proven popular with Ohio voters. Nearly 1.9 million voters cast absentee ballots in the 2012 presidential election, or about one of every three cast in Ohio that election.
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In 2005, Ohio went to no-fault absentee and early voting, meaning voters no longer needed a valid excuse for doing so.
“Early absentee voting has many benefits. It is convenient for voters for sure, and when voters cast ballots by mail, it reduces the chance of lines at the polls on Election Day,” Husted said in a written release.
Here are some key dates to remember:
Oct. 11: Last day to register to vote for the 2016 general election.
Oct. 12: Early voting opens.
Nov. 5: Requests for absentee ballots must be made before noon.
Nov. 7: Absentee ballots must be postmarked by this day.
Nov. 8: Election Day. Absentee ballots may be returned in-person to the county board of elections before the polls close at 7:30 p.m.
State legislators changed Ohio law to prohibit local boards of elections from pre-paying the return postage on absentee ballots. Voters must pay the postage themselves. Eck said local county board of elections will provide direction on how much postage is required.
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