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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots

 
 
 
Section
Section 3511.01 | Definitions.
 

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Dependent" means a person who is recognized as a dependent by one of the uniformed services.

(B) "Overseas voter" means any of the following:

(1) A person who is outside of the United States and who, before leaving the United States, was last eligible to vote in this state, who may be considered a state resident using the standards for residency established in sections 3503.02 and 3511.011 of the Revised Code, and who otherwise satisfies the requirements to vote in this state;

(2) A person who is outside of the United States and who, before leaving the United States, would have been eligible to vote in this state had the person then been eighteen years of age or older, who may be considered a state resident using the standards for residency established in sections 3503.02 and 3511.011 of the Revised Code, and who otherwise satisfies the requirements to vote in this state;

(3) A person who was born outside of the United States, who may be considered a state resident using the standards for residency established in sections 3503.02 and 3511.011 of the Revised Code, and who otherwise satisfies the requirements to vote in this state, if both of the following apply:

(a) The last place where the person's parent or legal guardian was, or would have been, eligible to vote before leaving the United States is within this state; and

(b) The person has not previously registered to vote in any other state.

(C) "Uniformed services" means:

(1) Active and reserve components of the army, navy, air force, marine corps, or coast guard of the United States;

(2) The merchant marine, the commissioned corps of the public health service, or the commissioned corps of the national oceanic and atmospheric administration of the United States;

(3) The national guard and the organized militia.

(D) "Uniformed services voter" means an individual who is qualified to vote in this state and who is:

(1) A member of one of the uniformed services described in division (C)(1) or (2) of this section;

(2) A member of one of the uniformed services described in division (C)(3) of this section who is on activated status.

(3) A spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter.

Section 3511.011 | Poll list to identify electors requesting absent voter's ballot.
 

Any section of the Revised Code to the contrary notwithstanding, any person who qualifies as a uniformed services voter or an overseas voter who will be eighteen years of age or more on the day of a general or special election and who is a citizen of the United States may vote uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots in such general or special election as follows:

(A) If an absent uniformed services member is the voter, the service member may vote only in the precinct in which the service member has a voting residence in the state, and that voting residence shall be that place in the precinct in which the service member resided immediately preceding the commencement of such service, provided that the time during which the service member continuously resided in the state immediately preceding the commencement of such service plus the time subsequent to such commencement and prior to the day of such general, special, or primary election is equal to or exceeds thirty days.

(B) If the spouse or dependent of an absent uniformed services member is the voter, the spouse or dependent may vote only in the precinct in which the spouse or dependent has a voting residence in the state, and that voting residence shall be that place in the precinct in which the spouse or dependent resided immediately preceding the time of leaving the state for the purpose of being with or near the service member, provided that the time during which the spouse or dependent continuously resided in the state immediately preceding the time of leaving the state for the purpose of being with or near the service member plus the time subsequent to such leaving and prior to the day of such general, special, or primary election is equal to or exceeds thirty days.

(C) If an absent uniformed services member or the service member's spouse or dependent establishes a permanent residence in a precinct other than the precinct in which the person resided immediately preceding the commencement of the service member's service, the voting residence of both the service member and the service member's spouse or dependent shall be the precinct of such permanent residence, provided that the time during which the service member continuously resided in the state immediately preceding the commencement of such service plus the time subsequent to such commencement and prior to the day of such general, special, or primary election is equal to or exceeds thirty days.

(D)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(2) of this section, if an overseas voter who is not an absent uniformed services voter or the spouse or dependent of an absent uniformed services voter is the voter, the overseas voter may vote only in the precinct in which the overseas voter has a voting residence in the state, and that voting residence shall be that place in the precinct in which the overseas voter resided immediately before leaving the United States, provided that the time during which the overseas voter continuously resided in the state immediately preceding such departure and prior to the day of such general, special, or primary election is equal to or exceeds thirty days.

(2) A person who was born outside of the United States and who meets the definition of "overseas voter" under division (B)(3) of section 3511.01 of the Revised Code shall be deemed to have a voting residence in this state at that place in the precinct in which the person's parent or guardian last resided immediately before leaving the United States, provided that the time during which the person's parent or guardian continuously resided in the state immediately preceding such departure and prior to the day of the general, special, or primary election is equal to or exceeds thirty days.

Section 3511.02 | Application for registration and absent voter's ballot.
 

(A) Notwithstanding any section of the Revised Code to the contrary, whenever any person applies for registration as a voter on a form adopted in accordance with federal regulations relating to the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act," 100 Stat. 924, 52 U.S.C.A. 20301, this application shall be sufficient for voter registration and as a request for an absent voter's ballot. Uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots may be obtained by any person meeting the requirements of section 3511.011 of the Revised Code by applying electronically to the secretary of state or to the board of elections of the county in which the person's voting residence is located in accordance with section 3511.021 of the Revised Code or by applying to the board of elections of the county in which the person's voting residence is located, in one of the following ways:

(1) That person may make written application for those ballots. The person may personally deliver the application to the office of the board or may mail it, send it by facsimile machine, send it by electronic mail, send it through internet delivery if such delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, or otherwise send it to the board. Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, the application shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and shall contain all of the following information:

(a) The elector's name;

(b) The elector's signature;

(c) The address at which the elector is registered to vote;

(d) The elector's date of birth;

(e) One of the following:

(i) The elector's Ohio driver's license or state identification card number;

(ii) The last four digits of the elector's social security number;

(iii) A copy of the elector's photo identification.

(f) A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested;

(g) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a qualified elector;

(h) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter as defined in 52 U.S.C. 20310;

(i) A statement of the elector's length of residence in the state immediately preceding the commencement of service, immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near the service member, or immediately preceding leaving the United States, or a statement that the elector's parent or legal guardian resided in this state long enough to establish residency for voting purposes immediately preceding leaving the United States, whichever is applicable;

(j) If the request is for primary election ballots, the elector's party affiliation;

(k) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed;

(l) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector by facsimile machine, the telephone number to which they shall be so sent;

(m) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector by electronic mail or, if offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, through internet delivery, the elector's electronic mail address or other internet contact information.

(2) A voter or any relative of a voter listed in division (A)(3) of this section may use a single federal post card application to apply for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for use at the primary and general elections in a given year and any special election to be held on the day in that year specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a primary election, designated by the general assembly for the purpose of submitting constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly to the voters of the state. A single federal postcard application shall be processed by the board of elections pursuant to section 3511.04 of the Revised Code the same as if the voter had applied separately for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for each election.

(3) Application to have uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots mailed or sent by facsimile machine to such a person may be made by the spouse, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of the whole blood or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of such a person. The application shall be in writing upon a blank form furnished only by the board or on a single federal post card as provided in division (A)(2) of this section. The form of the application shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The board shall furnish that blank form to any of the relatives specified in this division desiring to make the application, only upon the request of such a relative made in person at the office of the board or upon the written request of such a relative mailed to the office of the board. Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, the application, subscribed and sworn to by the applicant, shall contain all of the following:

(a) The full name of the elector for whom ballots are requested;

(b) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter as defined in 52 U.S.C. 20310;

(c) The address at which the elector is registered to vote;

(d) A statement identifying the elector's length of residence in the state immediately preceding the commencement of service, immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near a service member, or immediately preceding leaving the United States, or a statement that the elector's parent or legal guardian resided in this state long enough to establish residency for voting purposes immediately preceding leaving the United States, as the case may be;

(e) The elector's date of birth;

(f) One of the following:

(i) The elector's Ohio driver's license or state identification card number;

(ii) The last four digits of the elector's social security number;

(iii) A copy of the elector's photo identification.

(g) A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested;

(h) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a qualified elector;

(i) If the request is for primary election ballots, the elector's party affiliation;

(j) A statement that the applicant bears a relationship to the elector as specified in division (A)(3) of this section;

(k) The address to which ballots shall be mailed, the telephone number to which ballots shall be sent by facsimile machine, the electronic mail address to which ballots shall be sent by electronic mail, or, if internet delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, the internet contact information to which ballots shall be sent through internet delivery;

(l) The signature and address of the person making the application.

(B) If the elector has a confidential voter registration record, as described in section 111.44 of the Revised Code, the application may include the elector's program participant identification number instead of the address at which the elector is registered to vote.

(C) Each application for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots shall be delivered to the office of the board not earlier than the first day of January of the year of the elections for which the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots are requested or not earlier than ninety days before the day of the election at which the ballots are to be voted, whichever is earlier. An application to receive uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots by mail or by another method permitted under section 3511.021 of the Revised Code shall be delivered to the office of the board not later than the close of business on the seventh day preceding the day of the election.

(D) If the voter for whom the application is made is entitled to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors only, the applicant shall submit to the board, in addition to the requirements of division (A) of this section, a statement to the effect that the voter is qualified to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors and for no other offices.

(E) Except as permitted under section 111.31 of the Revised Code, no public office, and no public official or employee who is acting in an official capacity, shall do either of the following:

(1) Prepay the return postage for an application for absent voter's ballots;

(2) Mail or otherwise deliver an unsolicited application for absent voter's ballots to any person.

(F) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in sections 3505.24 and 3509.08 of the Revised Code, an election official shall not fill out any portion of a federal post card application or other application for absent voter's ballots on behalf of an applicant. The secretary of state or a board of elections may preprint only an applicant's name and address on a federal post card application or other application for absent voter's ballots before mailing that application to the applicant, except that if the applicant has a confidential voter registration record, the secretary of state or the board of elections shall not preprint the applicant's address on the application.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:08 PM

Section 3511.021 | Procedures for applying for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots.
 

(A)(1) The secretary of state shall establish procedures that allow any person who is eligible to vote as a uniformed services voter or an overseas voter in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6 to apply by electronic means to the office of the secretary of state or to the board of elections of the county in which the person's voting residence is located for a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot.

(2) The procedures shall allow such a person who requests a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot application to express a preference for the manner in which the person will receive the requested application, whether by mail, facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or, if offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, through internet delivery. If the person completes and timely returns the application and the applicant is eligible to receive a ballot, the procedures shall allow the applicant to express a preference for the manner in which the person will receive the requested blank, unvoted ballots, whether by mail, facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or, if offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, through internet delivery. The requested items shall be transmitted by the board of elections of the county in which the person's voting residence is located by the preferred method. If the requestor does not express a preferred method, the requested items shall be delivered via standard mail.

(3) To the extent practicable, the procedures shall protect the security and integrity of the ballot request and delivery process, and protect the privacy of the identity and personal data of the person when such applications and ballots are requested, processed, and sent.

(4) No person shall return by electronic means to the secretary of state, a board of elections, or any other entity a completed or voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot. If a ballot is so returned, the ballot shall not be accepted, processed, or counted.

(B)(1) The secretary of state, in coordination with the boards of elections, shall establish a free access system by which an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter may determine the following:

(a) Whether that person's request for a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot was received and processed;

(b) If the person's request was received and processed, when the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot was sent;

(c) Whether any uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot returned by that person has been received by election officials;

(d) Whether the board of elections found any error on the identification envelope containing the person's returned uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot and, if so, how the person may correct any error within ten days after the day of an election; and

(e) Whether the person's uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot was counted.

(2) The appropriate state or local election official shall establish and maintain reasonable procedures necessary to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal information that is confidential under state or federal law that is collected, stored, or otherwise used by the free access system established under division (B) of this section. Access to information about the votes cast on an individual ballot shall be restricted to the person who cast the ballot. To the extent practicable, the procedures shall protect the security and integrity of the process and protect the privacy of the identity and personal data of the person.

Section 3511.03 | Form of ballots.
 

The board of elections of each county shall provide uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for use at each election. Such ballots for general or primary elections shall be prescribed on the seventieth day before the day of such elections and shall be the same as provided for absent voters in section 3509.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 3511.04 | Ballot sent by mail, facsimile machine or other means.
 

(A) If a board of elections receives an application for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots that does not contain all of the required information or is not submitted on an appropriate form, the board promptly shall notify the applicant of the additional information required to be provided by the applicant to complete that application, direct the applicant to use an appropriate form, or both, as applicable.

(B) Not later than the forty-sixth day before the day of each general or primary election, and at the earliest possible time before the day of a special election held on a day other than the day on which a general or primary election is held, the board of elections shall mail, send by facsimile machine, send by electronic mail, send through internet delivery if such delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, or otherwise send uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots then ready for use as provided for in section 3511.03 of the Revised Code and for which the board has received valid applications prior to that time. Thereafter, and until the close of business on the seventh day preceding the day of election, the board shall promptly, upon receipt of valid applications for them, mail, send by facsimile machine, send by electronic mail, send through internet delivery if such delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, or otherwise send to the proper persons all uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots then ready for use.

If, after the seventieth day before the day of a general or primary election, any other question, issue, or candidacy is lawfully ordered submitted to the electors voting at the general or primary election, the board shall promptly provide a separate official issue, special election, or other election ballot for submitting the question, issue, or candidacy to those electors, and the board shall promptly mail, send by facsimile machine, send by electronic mail, send through internet delivery if such delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, or otherwise send each such separate ballot to each person to whom the board has previously mailed or sent other uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots.

No public office, and no public official or employee who is acting in an official capacity, shall prepay the return postage for any absent voter's ballots. In mailing uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots, the board shall use the fastest mail service available, but the board shall not mail them by certified mail.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:08 PM

Section 3511.05 | Identification envelope format and return.
 

(A) The board of elections shall place uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots sent by mail in an unsealed identification envelope, gummed ready for sealing. The board shall include with uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots sent electronically, including by facsimile machine, an instruction sheet for preparing a gummed envelope in which the ballots shall be returned. The envelope for returning ballots sent by either means shall have printed or written on its face a form substantially as follows:

"Identification Envelope Statement of Voter

I, ________________________(Name of voter), declare under penalty of election falsification that the within ballot or ballots contained no voting marks of any kind when I received them, and I caused the ballot or ballots to be marked, enclosed in the identification envelope, and sealed in that envelope.

My voting residence in Ohio is

________________________________________________________________

(Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number)

of ________________________________ (City, Village, or Township) Ohio, which is in Ward _______________ Precinct ________________ in that city, village, or township.

If I have a confidential voter registration record, I am providing my program participant identification number instead of my residence address: ________________________

The primary election ballots, if any, within this envelope are primary election ballots of the _____________ Party.

Ballots contained within this envelope are to be voted at the __________ (general, special, or primary) election to be held on the __________________________ day of ______________________, ____

My date of birth is _______________ (Month and Day), __________ (Year).

(Voter must provide one of the following:)

My Ohio driver's license or state identification card number is _______________ (Driver's license or state identification card number).

The last four digits of my Social Security Number are _______________ (Last four digits of Social Security Number).

______ In lieu of providing a driver's license or state identification card number or the last four digits of my Social Security Number, I am enclosing a copy of my photo identification in the return envelope in which this identification envelope will be mailed.

I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification, that the statements above are true, as I verily believe.

________________________

(Signature of Voter)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."

(B) The board shall also mail with the ballots and the unsealed identification envelope sent by mail an unsealed return envelope, gummed, ready for sealing, for use by the voter in returning the voter's marked ballots to the office of the board. The board shall send with the ballots and the instruction sheet for preparing a gummed envelope sent electronically, including by facsimile machine, an instruction sheet for preparing a second gummed envelope as described in this division, for use by the voter in returning that voter's marked ballots to the board. The return envelope shall have two parallel lines, each one quarter of an inch in width, printed across its face paralleling the top, with an intervening space of one quarter of an inch between such lines. The top line shall be one and one-quarter inches from the top of the envelope. Between the parallel lines shall be printed: "OFFICIAL ELECTION UNIFORMED SERVICES OR OVERSEAS ABSENT VOTER'S BALLOTS -- VIA AIR MAIL." Three blank lines shall be printed in the upper left corner on the face of the envelope for the use by the voter in placing the voter's complete military, naval, or mailing address on these lines. The post-office address of the office of the board shall be printed on the face of such envelope in the lower right portion below the bottom parallel line.

(C) On the back of each identification envelope and each return envelope shall be printed the following:

"Instructions to voter:

If the flap on this envelope is so firmly stuck to the back of the envelope when received by you as to require forcible opening in order to use it, open the envelope in the manner least injurious to it, and, after marking your ballots and enclosing same in the envelope for mailing them to the board of elections, reclose the envelope in the most practicable way, by sealing or otherwise, and sign the blank form printed below.

The flap on this envelope was firmly stuck to the back of the envelope when received, and required forced opening before sealing and mailing.

____________________

(Signature of voter)"

(D) Division (C) of this section does not apply when absent voter's ballots are sent electronically, including by facsimile machine.

(E) Except as otherwise provided in this division and in sections 3505.24 and 3509.08 of the Revised Code, an election official shall not fill out any portion of an identification envelope statement of voter or an absent voter's ballot on behalf of an elector. A board of elections may preprint only an elector's name and address on an identification envelope statement of voter before mailing or electronically transmitting absent voter's ballots to the elector, except that if the elector has a confidential voter registration record, as described in section 111.44 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall not preprint the elector's address on the identification envelope statement of voter.

Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:32 AM

Section 3511.051 | Marking of identification envelopes containing presidential ballots.
 

All identification envelopes containing absent voter's ballots for voters who are entitled to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors only shall have printed or stamped thereon the words, "Presidential Ballots Only."

Section 3511.06 | Size and quality of identification and return envelopes.
 

The return envelope provided for in section 3511.05 of the Revised Code shall be of such size that the identification envelope can be conveniently placed within it for returning the identification envelope to the office of the board of elections. The envelope in which the two envelopes and the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots are mailed to the elector shall have two parallel lines, each one quarter of an inch in width, printed across its face, paralleling the top, with an intervening space of one-quarter of an inch between such lines. The top line shall be one and one-quarter inches from the top of the envelope. Between the parallel lines shall be printed: "official uniformed services or overseas absent voter's balloting material--via air mail." The appropriate return address of the board of elections shall be printed in the upper left corner on the face of such envelope. Several blank lines shall be printed on the face of such envelope in the lower right portion, below the bottom parallel line, for writing in the name and address of the elector to whom such envelope is mailed.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:09 PM

Section 3511.07 | Mailing precautions.
 

When mailing unsealed identification envelopes and unsealed return envelopes to persons, the board of elections shall insert a sheet of waxed paper or other appropriate insert between the gummed flap and the back of each of such envelopes to minimize the possibility that the flap may become firmly stuck to the back of the envelope by reason of moisture, humid atmosphere, or other conditions to which they may be subjected. If the flap on either of such envelopes should be so firmly stuck to the back of the envelope when it is received by the voter as to require forcible opening of the envelope in order to use it, the voter shall open such envelope in the manner least injurious to it, and, after marking the voter's ballots and enclosing them in the envelope for mailing to the director, the voter shall reclose such envelope in the most practicable way, by sealing it or otherwise, and shall sign the blank form printed on the back of such envelope.

Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:33 AM

Section 3511.08 | Record of distribution.
 

The board of elections shall keep a record of the name and address of each person to whom the board mails or delivers uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots, the kinds of ballots so mailed or delivered, and the name and address of the person who made the application for such ballots. After the board has mailed or delivered such ballots the board shall not mail or deliver additional ballots of the same kind to such person pursuant to a subsequent request unless such subsequent request contains the statement that an earlier request had been sent to the board prior to the thirtieth day before the election and that the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots so requested had not been received by such person prior to the fifteenth day before the election, and provided that the board has not received an identification envelope purporting to contain marked uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots from such person.

Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:33 AM

Section 3511.09 | Voting procedure.
 

(A) Upon receiving uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots, the elector shall cause the questions on the face of the identification envelope to be answered, and, by writing the elector's usual signature in the proper place on the identification envelope, the elector shall declare under penalty of election falsification that the answers to those questions are true and correct to the best of the elector's knowledge and belief. Then, the elector shall note whether there are any voting marks on the ballot. If there are any voting marks, the ballot shall be returned immediately to the board of elections; otherwise, the elector shall cause the ballot to be marked, folded separately so as to conceal the markings on it, deposited in the identification envelope, and securely sealed in the identification envelope. The elector shall sign the identification envelope not later than the close of the polls on the day of the election. The elector then shall cause the identification envelope to be placed within the return envelope, sealed in the return envelope, and mailed to the board of elections to which it is addressed.

(B) The elector shall provide one of the following:

(1) The elector's Ohio driver's license or state identification card number on the statement of voter on the identification envelope;

(2) The last four digits of the elector's social security number on the statement of voter on the identification envelope;

(3) A copy of the elector's photo identification in the return envelope with the identification envelope.

(C) Every uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot identification envelope shall be accompanied by the following statement in boldface capital letters: WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.

(D) The elector shall cause the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots to be returned to the office of the board of elections in a manner described in division (C) of section 3509.05 of the Revised Code, provided that the elector shall not be required to prepay the postage on the return envelope if, under 39 U.S.C. 3406, no postage is required.

Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:34 AM

Section 3511.10 | Voting at board of elections.
 

A uniformed services or overseas absent voter may cast absent voter's ballots in person at the office of the board of elections in accordance with section 3509.051 of the Revised Code. If thereafter, and before the close of business on the seventh day preceding such election, the board provides additional separate official issue or special election ballots, as provided for in section 3511.04 of the Revised Code, the board shall promptly, and not later than the close of business on the seventh day preceding the day of election, mail such additional ballots to such person at the address specified by that person for that purpose.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:09 PM

Section 3511.11 | Procedure upon board receiving ballots.
 

(A) Uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots delivered to the office of the board of elections not later than the close of the polls on election day shall be processed and counted in the manner provided in section 3509.06 of the Revised Code.

(B) A return envelope is not required to be postmarked in order for a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot contained in it to be valid. Except as otherwise provided in this division, whether or not the return envelope containing the ballot is postmarked, contains a late postmark, or contains an illegible postmark, a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot that is received by mail after the close of the polls on election day through the fourth day after the election day shall be processed and counted on the fifth day after the election day at the office of the board of elections in the manner provided in section 3509.06 of the Revised Code if the voter signed the identification envelope by the close of the polls on election day. However, if a return envelope containing a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot is so received, but the identification envelope in it is signed after the close of the polls on election day, the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot shall not be counted.

(C) The following types of uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots shall not be counted:

(1) Uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots that are received by the board of elections after the close of the polls on the day of the election, and that contain an identification envelope that is signed after the close of the polls on election day;

(2) Uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots that are received after the fourth day following the election.

The uncounted ballots shall be preserved in their identification envelopes unopened until the time provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the destruction of all other ballots used at the election for which ballots were provided, at which time they shall be destroyed.

Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:35 AM

Section 3511.12 | Counting armed service absent voter's ballots.
 

In counting uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots pursuant to section 3511.11 of the Revised Code, the name of each voter, followed by "Uniformed Services or Overseas Absent Voter's Ballot," shall be written in the poll book or poll list together with such notations as will indicate the kinds of ballots the envelope contained, except that if the voter has a confidential voter registration record, as described in section 111.44 of the Revised Code, that information shall be marked in the voter's registration record but not in the poll book or poll list. If any challenge is made and sustained, the identification envelope of such voter shall not be opened and shall be indorsed "not counted" with the reasons therefor.

Section 3511.13 | Poll list to identify electors requesting armed services absent voter's ballot.
 

(A) The poll list or signature pollbook for each precinct shall identify each registered elector in that precinct who has requested a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot for that election or cast absent voter's ballots in person under section 3509.051 of the Revised Code, other than an elector who has a confidential voter registration record, as described in section 111.44 of the Revised Code.

(B) If a registered elector appears to vote and that elector has requested or cast a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot for that election, the elector shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) In counting uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots under section 3511.11 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall compare the signature of each elector from whom the board has received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for that election to the signature on the elector's registration form. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(3) of this section, if the board of elections determines that the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot in the sealed identification envelope is valid, it shall be counted. If the board of elections determines that the signature on the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot does not match the signature on the elector's registration form, the ballot shall be set aside and the board shall examine, during the time prior to the beginning of the official canvass, the poll list or signature pollbook from the precinct in which the elector is registered to vote to determine if the elector also cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.

(2) The board of elections shall count the provisional ballot, instead of the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot, of an elector from whom the board has received an identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots, if both of the following apply:

(a) The board of elections determines that the signature of the elector on the outside of the identification envelope in which the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots are enclosed does not match the signature of the elector on the elector's registration form;

(b) The elector cast a provisional ballot in the election.

(3) If the board of elections does not receive the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot by the applicable deadline established under section 3511.11 of the Revised Code, the provisional ballot cast under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code shall be counted as valid, if that provisional ballot is otherwise determined to be valid pursuant to section 3505.183 of the Revised Code.

(D) If the board of elections counts a provisional ballot under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, the returned identification envelope of that elector shall not be opened, and the ballot within that envelope shall not be counted. The identification envelope shall be endorsed "Not Counted" with the reason the ballot was not counted.

Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:35 AM

Section 3511.14 | Acceptance and processing of federal write-in ballots.
 

(A) A board of elections shall accept and process federal write-in absentee ballots for all elections for office and for all ballot questions and issues as required under "The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act," Pub. L. No. 99-410, 100 Stat. 924, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, et seq., as amended.

(B) A uniformed services or overseas voter may use the declaration accompanying a federal write-in absentee ballot to apply to register to vote simultaneously with the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot, if the declaration is received not later than thirty days before the day of the election. If the declaration is received after that date, the declaration shall be considered an application to register to vote for all subsequent elections.

Section 3511.15 | Emergency absentee voting procedures.
 

If an international, national, state, or local emergency or other situation arises that makes substantial compliance with the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act," 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, et seq., as amended, impossible or impracticable, as confirmed by the existence of armed conflict involving United States armed forces or the mobilization of those forces, including Ohio national guard and reserve component members of this state, or by the occurrence of a natural disaster or the existence of a state of emergency, civil unrest, war, or other exigency in a foreign country, or by an official declaration by the governor that a state of emergency exists, the governor directly, or by delegation to the secretary of state, may prescribe, by emergency order or rule, a special procedure or requirement as may be necessary to facilitate absent voting by those absent uniformed services voters or overseas voters directly affected who are eligible to vote in this state. The secretary of state shall take reasonable steps to provide absent uniformed services or overseas voters with timely notice of any special procedure or requirement prescribed under this section.

Section 3511.16 | Election notice to be used with federal write-in absentee ballot.
 

(A) At least one hundred days before the day of a regularly scheduled election and as soon as practicable before an election that is not regularly scheduled, the board of elections of each county shall prepare an election notice for each precinct in which the election is to be conducted, to be used in conjunction with a federal write-in absentee ballot. The election notice shall contain a list of all of the ballot questions and issues and all federal, state, and local offices that, as of that date, the board expects to be on the ballot at that election. The notice also shall contain specific instructions on how a uniformed services or overseas voter is to indicate on the federal write-in absentee ballot the voter's choice for each office to be filled and for each ballot question and issue to be contested.

(B) A uniformed services or overseas voter may request a copy of an election notice prepared under division (A) of this section. The board of elections shall send the notice to the voter by facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or regular mail, as the voter requests.

(C) As soon as the form of the ballot is certified, and not later than the date uniformed services and overseas ballots are required to be transmitted to voters under section 3509.01 of the Revised Code, the board shall update the notice with the certified candidates for each office and ballot questions and issues and make the updated notice publicly available.

(D) A board of elections that maintains an internet web site shall make the election notice prepared under division (A) of this section and updated versions of the election notice regularly available on that web site.