Absentee vs mail in ballot ohio

In Ohio, both absentee and mail-in ballots are used to allow voters to cast their ballots remotely, but there are some key differences between the two:

Absentee Ballots:

• An absentee ballot is a paper ballot that is completed by the voter and then mailed or delivered to the county board of elections.
• To request an absentee ballot, a voter must submit a written request to their county board of elections, which must be received by a certain deadline (usually 4:30 pm on the 3rd business day before the election).
• The voter must sign the request and provide their name, address, and date of birth.
• The county board of elections will then mail the absentee ballot to the voter, who must complete it and return it to the board by the deadline (usually 7:30 pm on election day).
• Absentee ballots are typically counted on election day, but the voter's identity is verified at the polls.

Mail-in Ballots:

• A mail-in ballot is a paper ballot that is completed by the voter and then mailed directly to the voter's address.
• In Ohio, mail-in ballots are also known as "vote-by-mail" ballots.
• To request a mail-in ballot, a voter must submit a written request to their county board of elections, which must be received by a certain deadline (usually 4:30 pm on the 3rd business day before the election).
• The voter must sign the request and provide their name, address, and date of birth.
• The county board of elections will then mail the mail-in ballot to the voter, who must complete it and return it to the board by the deadline (usually 7:30 pm on election day).
• Mail-in ballots are typically counted on election day, but the voter's identity is verified at the polls.

Key differences:

• Absentee ballots are typically used for voters who are unable to vote in person due to illness, disability, or other circumstances, while mail-in ballots are used for voters who prefer to vote from home.
• Absentee ballots are usually counted on election day, while mail-in ballots are counted after the election.
• Absentee ballots require the voter to return the completed ballot to the county board of elections, while mail-in ballots are returned directly to the voter's address.

Ohio's mail-in ballot law:

• In 2020, Ohio passed a law allowing voters to request a mail-in ballot for any reason, without having to provide a specific excuse.
• The law also allows voters to request a mail-in ballot online, rather than having to submit a written request.
• The law also requires the county board of elections to send a confirmation email or text message to the voter once their request has been received.

It's worth noting that while both absentee and mail-in ballots are used to allow voters to cast their ballots remotely, the process and requirements for each type of ballot may vary depending on the county and the specific election.