March 26, 2020
Voting in Ohio’s 2020 Primary Election
After a week of uncertainty around the fate of that election, the Ohio General Assembly recently passed Amended House Bill 197, which included an extension to allow Ohioans to safely vote by mail on or before April 28, 2020.
At the Ohio Environmental Council, we believe a healthy democracy empowers voters to demand a healthy environment. We want to make sure you are equipped with how you can make sure your voice is heard and your vote is counted in Ohio’s extended 2020 Primary Election.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE VOTED
For those of you who already voted (either by mail or by in-person early vote) your vote will be counted on April 28.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET VOTED
If you were looking forward to voting in-person on our Primary Election, there will be no in-person voting (except for voters with disabilities or those who cannot receive mail at their residence). So you will need to vote absentee by mail. Here is the process outlined by the General Assembly:
1. Request your absentee vote-by-mail application
A postcard will be sent from the Secretary of State to all registered Ohioans notifying us about the process. But you need not wait for that postcard to apply for your absentee ballot. Here’s how you can obtain an absentee vote-by-mail application:
✔️Print out an application from the Secretary of State’s website at voteohio.gov.
✔️If you do not have access to a printer, you can also call your local Board of Elections and request the application form be mailed to you. Click here to find your Board of Elections.
2. Fill out that application and mail the completed form to your local county Board of Elections. Make sure you mark March 17, 2020 as the election date.
3. You will then receive your blank ballot in the mail. Complete your ballot and then mail it back or drop it off at your local county Board of Elections office.
Remember these important dates:
✔️Request your absentee vote-by-mail application TODAY (but no later than April 25 @ noon)
✔️Mail your completed ballots with a postmark of no later than April 27 – OR – Drop off at your local county Board of Elections office by 7:30 p.m. on April 28.
This was not how many of us planned to vote in this year’s Primary Election, but with levies for local schools, parks, and social services hanging in the balance with this vote, we need to make sure our voices are heard.
ACT NOW to make sure you receive your absentee ballot in time to make your vote count.
Special thanks to our friends at Common Cause Ohio for this helpful graphic: