Early voting (absentee)
voter request form

(nOTE: FAXED COPIES OF ABSENTEE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.)



What is EARLY (absentee) voting?

Early (Absentee) voting allows a voter to cast a ballot at anytime up to 35 days before a Primary , Special or General election. 

Forms necessary for obtaining an Early (Absentee) ballot are available below.  
 

How do I get an EARLY (absentee) ballot?

With the passage of Sub HB 234, electors will not be required to state a reason to vote absentee.  You may complete an Absentee Voter Application Form from this web page.   You may also write or go to the Board of Elections and request an absentee ballot, giving the following information:

• Your name and voting residence.
• The election for which you are requesting a ballot.
• Your party choice, if the election is a Primary, or  you may wish to request an "Issues Only" ballot.  Currently under Ohio Election Law, the ballot that you vote in a Primary Election (Republican or Democrat) determines your party affiliation. An Issues Only ballot will designate you as No Party (there are no candidates on this ballot).
• The mailing address to which you want your ballot sent.
• Your date of birth.
• One of the following forms of identification:       
• Valid Ohio driver's license number
• The last four digits of the voter's social security number
• A copy of the voter's current and valid photo id.
• A copy of a current (a) utility bill, (b) bank statement, (c) government check, (d) paycheck, or (e) government document that shows the electors name and address.
• Your legal signature or mark.

NOTE:  Ohio Election Law does not recognize a Power of Attorney.  If the voter is unable to sign, the voter must make a mark and may be witnessed and signed by another person.

COLLEGE STUDENTS AND VOTING

Must a student always vote an absentee ballot because he is attending college, but away from his home county of residence?

No, the student is eligible to vote the ballot for the location that he considers to be his voting residence.  If a student happens to be at home within the 35 days before the election, he may visit his local board of elections and vote absentee.   

What does "voting residence" mean as far as students are concerned?

It means the residence a student claims as his home qualifies him to vote on a particular ballot.  If a student is uncertain of what residence to use as his qualifying residence for voting purposes, he should consult with his parents because each consideration of home may be different for each student.  

If a Butler County resident is a college student and will not be home on election day because of attending college, may he vote absentee? 

Yes.  He may vote absentee by requesting a ballot. 
 
ARMED SERVICES MEMBERS 

What is the voting residence of a service member?

The voting residence of a service member is the place where he resided when first entering the service or where he established voting residence. 

Must the service member register first to get an absentee ballot if he is in the armed service?

No.  He may submit a Federal Postcard Application form from the link provided below.  This form will allow the service member to both register and request an absentee ballot at the same time and on one form. 

How does a service member get an absentee ballot when away in the service? 

The service member, a spouse or a family member may request an absentee ballot for you by providing the following information to the local board of elections:

• Your name and voting residence.
• A statement that the service member is serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, and the requestor is the spouse or dependent of that service member.
• The election for which you are requesting a ballot.
• Your party choice, if the election is a Primary, or  you may wish to request an "Issues Only" ballot.  Currently under Ohio Election Law, the ballot that you vote in a Primary Election (Republican or Democrat) determines your party affiliation. An Issues Only ballot will designate you as No Party.
• The mailing address to which the ballot should be sent.
• Your date of birth.
• One of the following forms of identification:       
• Valid Ohio driver's license number
• The last four digits of the voter's social security number
• A copy of the voter's current and valid photo id.
• A copy of a current (a) utility bill, (b) bank statement, (c) government check, (d) paycheck, or (e) government document that shows the electors name and address.
• The signature of the service member, or the signature of the person requesting the ballot.

OTHER INFORMATION

If voting in person, you may do so at the Board of Elections during regular business hours up to the day before the election.

If requesting a ballot by mail, your written request must be received at the Board of Elections by noon on the Saturday prior to the elections for which you intend to vote.

Please request an early (absentee) ballot as early as possible and allow enough time if returning ballot to meet the return deadline.

All voted absentee ballots may be returned:

By U.S. Mail:  must be postmarked no later than the day before the election and received by the board of elections no later than 10 days after the election (postmarked does not include a date marked by a postage evidence system).

In person, by yourself or an eligible family member:  must be delivered to the board of elections office no later than 7:30 p.m., the close of polls on Election day.
 

If you are in the hospital for a medical emergency ON ELECTION DAY, the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is 3 p.m. on Election Day.  Please contact the Board of Elections office at 513-887-3700 for an application and additional information.

EXCEPTION:

Ballots mailed from out of the country will be counted if received by the Board of Elections up to 10 days following the election if post-marked by Election Day.  In the case of a Presidential Primary Election, ballots will be counted if received by the Board of Elections up to 20 days following the election if post-marked by Election Day.

Absentee Voter Application Forms
(COMPLETED FORMS MAY NOT BE FAXED BACK TO OUR OFFICE)

    Application for Absent Voter's Ballots

    Application for Armed Service Absent Voter Ballot

    Application by relative for absent voter ballot for member of the organized state militia

    Application by relative for Armed Service absent voter ballot

    Application for Absent Voter Ballot by Voter Requiring Assistance or Voter Hospitalized Because of Accident or Medical Emergency