Ohio Secretary of State
Absentee Information

Any registered voter can apply for or participate in absentee / early voting. Absentee and early voting indicates the same thing which is casting a ballot prior to election day, either by requesting a ballot to be mailed or casting a ballot early in-person. Absentee Ballot applications can be submitted beginning January 1st of that election calendar year. An application must be submitted for EACH election.

Absentee Application

Absentee Ballot Return Information

An elector may return an absentee ballot (1) by mail, (2) deliver it personally to the board of elections, or (3) may have a spouse of the elector, the voter the father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister of the whole or half blood, or the son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of the elector may deliver it to the board. R.C. 3509.05(A).

Envelopes containing marked absent voter’s ballots must be delivered to the board no later than the close of polls on the day of the election. However, any return envelope that is postmarked prior to the day of the election must be delivered to the board before the 11th day after the election. R.C. 3509.05(B)(1).

Ballots that are delivered in envelopes postmarked prior to the day of the election that are received after the close of polls on election through the 10th day thereafter must be counted on the 11th day. R.C. 3509.05(B)(1).

UOCAVA voters must submit the absentee ballot for mailing not later than 12:01 a.m. at the place where the voter completes the ballot, on the date of the election. R.C. 3511.09.

Please note that the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) estimates that it may take two to five days for an elector’s voted absentee ballot to be delivered to the board of elections by mail.

AV Voter with a Disability

If you are disabled and have moved or changed your name and missed the voter registration deadline you can still vote an absentee ballot by requesting AV Provisional Application for an address change.

Click Here to download the required form.

If you are disabled and would like to have an ADA Compliant Absentee Ballot, you will need to complete form 11-G from the SOS.

ADA Compliant AV Application Form 11-G

 

My Absentee Status

Click to see the current status of your absentee request and ballot. Information on applications and ballots..

Voters wanting to receive an absentee ballot by mail may request a ballot by writing the Board of Elections office using an application form. Voters are NOT required to use the form; they can apply by supplying our office with the following information:

	Full Name
	Wood County Address
	Address where you would like the ballot sent if different than your voting address
	Date of Birth
	A copy of a current and valid photo identification, (i.e. Ohio driver’s license, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and address; or The last four digits of voter’s Social Security number; or driver's license number or A copy of a current utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and current address (including from a public college or university). View Ohio Secretary of State's I.D. requirements: Bring_ID
	Party affiliation preference (Note: This is only needed for a Primary Election)
	For which election (General, Primary or Special) you are requesting a ballot (including the election date)
	A statement indicating the applicant is a qualified elector of Wood County
	Signature

Voters in the U.S. Armed Services and all out-of-country voters can find specific absentee ballot instructions on the Armed Services and Overseas Voting Information page.

Absentee ballots to Military or Overseas Civilians mailing begins 45 days before each election.