Section 3503.201
(A)(1) When either of the following occur, the board of elections shall send the elector a confirmation notice and, if the board's records are not already so marked, shall mark the elector's registration record, the official registration list, and the poll list or signature pollbook to indicate that the elector must vote by provisional ballot and the reason the elector must do so:
(a) The board determines that it is unable to verify an elector's residence address, as described in division (C)(2) of section 3503.19 of the Revised Code.
(b) The board receives information from the secretary of state under division (E) of section 3503.151 of the Revised Code indicating that the board must verify the elector's date of birth or Ohio driver's license or state identification card number or the last four digits of the elector's social security number.
(2) A confirmation notice sent to an elector under division (A)(1) of this section shall include both of the following:
(a) The information the board must verify;
(b) The manner in which the elector may provide the required information to the board before the elector next appears to vote, as described in division (B) of this section, or when casting a provisional ballot, as described in division (D) of this section.
(B) An elector whose registration record has been marked under division (A) of this section to indicate that the elector must cast a provisional ballot is not required to cast a provisional ballot if, before the elector next appears to vote, the elector does the following, as applicable:
(1) Provides a valid residence address to the board, if the board must verify the elector's residence address;
(2) Provides the necessary information or documentation to the board to rectify any identified mismatch between the elector's registration record and the elector's date of birth or Ohio driver's license or state identification card number or the last four digits of the elector's social security number in the database of the bureau of motor vehicles or the United States social security administration.
(C) When the board has verified all of the information the board is required to verify concerning an elector under division (B) of this section, the board shall correct or update the elector's registration, as applicable, and shall remove the indication that the elector must vote by provisional ballot. The board shall not remove a provisional ballot indication until every piece of information that must be verified concerning the elector has been verified.
(D)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, at the first election at which an elector whose registration record is marked to indicate that the elector must vote by provisional ballot under this section appears to vote, the elector shall vote by provisional ballot.
(2) In order for the elector's provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted, in addition to meeting all other requirements described in division (B)(3) of section 3505.183 of the Revised Code, the elector shall provide the applicable required information as described in division (B) of this section on or attached to the provisional ballot affirmation, or shall appear in person at the office of the board within four days after the day of the election and provide that information.
(3) If the elector's provisional ballot is counted pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 3505.183 of the Revised Code and division (D)(2) of this section, the board shall correct or update the elector's registration, as applicable, and shall remove the indication that the elector must vote by provisional ballot.
(4) If the provisional ballot is not counted pursuant to division (B)(4)(a)(i), (v), or (vi) of section 3505.183 of the Revised Code or division (D)(2) of this section, the board shall cancel the elector's registration in accordance with section 3503.21 of the Revised Code.
Last updated January 9, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- March 20, 2026 – Enacted by Senate Bill 293 - 136th General Assembly [ View March 20, 2026 Version ]