Ohio absentee voting 'on track to surpass' 2008 numbers

As both candidates continue rallying for support in battleground Ohio, the latest absentee voting numbers have been released by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s office.

As of Friday, more than 1.6 million Ohioans had cast their ballots either by absentee voting or early in-person voting. Of the more than 1.3 million absentee ballots sent out in Ohio, more than 85 percent, or 1.1 million have been returned.

“As voters continue to take advantage of the hours remaining to vote absentee in person and by mail, absentee voting for the 2012 is on track to surpass 2008,” Husted said in a release.

Voters who have requested absentee ballots must have their ballots postmarked by Monday, Nov. 5, and their county board of elections office must receive their ballots no later than Nov. 16 in order for their vote to be counted in the election. Absentee ballots may also be returned in person to the board of elections until the close of the polls on Election Day.

Husted’s office notes that if a voter has requested to vote absentee but shows up to their polling location to vote in person on Election Day, their vote will be counted as a provisional ballot, and will not be counted until 10 days after the general election.

Board of elections offices will be open for early voting during the following hours:

Sunday, Nov. 4: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 5: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Polls will be open on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.