Absentee Voting Process

Absentee Voting Period:

1. For uniformed service voters and overseas voters eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), the absentee ballots must be ready 45 days before each election.
2. For all other voters, absentee voting begins 35 days before the day of an election.

How to Receive an Absentee Ballot:

1. In person: After absentee ballots are available for voting, you may appear at the Geauga County Board of Elections office during our regular and extended business hours, but no later than 6:00 p.m. on the Friday before the election.
2. By Mail: If you are applying for a ballot through the mail, your application must be received by noon the Saturday before the election. However, you should submit your request as far in advance of the election as possible to ensure there is sufficient time for the board to mail you a ballot and for you to timely return the ballot.
3. If you or a minor child is in the hospital on Election Day: you must submit a properly completed and signed request to the board of elections by 3:00 p.m. on Election Day.
4. In person absentee voting for UOCAVA voters ends at 7:30 p.m. on the day of the election.

How to Request an Absentee Ballot:

Beginning January 1st, or 90 days before the date of each election, whichever is earlier, you may mail a properly completed absentee application bearing your original signature to the board of elections.

Absentee ballots must be applied for in writing. If you are properly registered to vote, you must submit a written request to receive a ballot. You may use the absentee application attached to apply for your absentee ballot or if you choose not to use the prescribed form, your written request must contain all of the following information:

1. Your name;
2. Your legal signature;
3. The address at which you are registered to vote;
4. Your date of birth;
5. One of the following forms showing proof of your identification:
   1. Your OHIO drivers license number;
   2. The last four digits of your Social Security number; or
   3. A copy of your current and valid photo identification, military identification, or a current (with the last 12 months) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address (Note: You cannot use a voter registration acknowledgement notice that the board of elections mailed to you as proof of identification.)
6. A statement identifying the election for which you are requesting an absent voters ballot;
7. A statement that you are a qualified elector;
8. If the request is for a partisan primary election ballot, your political party affiliation; and
9. If you want the ballot to be mailed, the address to which you want it mailed.

Returning Your Absentee Ballot:

1. If you are a voter in the United States, your ballot may be returned by U.S. mail: the return envelope containing your ballot must either be received by the board of elections prior to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, or postmarked no later than the day before the election and received by the board of elections no later than 10 days after the election; or In person, either by you or an eligible family member: your ballot must be sealed in the completed and signed identification envelope provided with the ballot, must be delivered to the board of elections office no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
2. If you are a voter outside the U.S. on Election Day, your ballot envelope must be submitted for mailing not later than 12:01 a.m. on Election Day and received by our office not later than 10 days after the election.

Uniformed Services and Overseas Absentee Voters:

1. The voting rights of U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. and members of the uniformed services on active duty away from their Ohio voting residence are governed by Chapter 3511 of the Ohio Revised Code as well as federal law known as the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). UOCAVA voters should use the Federal Voting Assistance Program at www.fvap.gov or the Overseas Vote Foundation at www.OverseasVoteFoundation.org for further assistance.