Loveland, Ohio – As reported by the Ohio Capital Journal the Ohio primary election voting will be extended through April 28. There will be no in-person voting except for some disabled voters and those without access to the postal system according to the Journal.
By order of the Ohio Department of Health, the March 17 Primary voting was canceled. Loveland School District residents were eager to find out if a proposed operating levy was going to pass muster.
Lawmakers have since struggled with finding a way to conclude the voting and this is still very much a fluid situation as lawsuits may be filed and as of press time, none of the three local Boards of Election are reflecting the changes to the Legislature’s action. The Governor also must still sign the legislation. The Journal reports that he is expected to sign the bill.
The Journal goes on to say:
Voting for the Ohio Primary Election has been extended through April 28 and will be conducted through mailed-in absentee ballots.
On Wednesday, the Ohio legislature approved a process that will extend voting following a postponement of the March 17 primary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was approved as part of a larger bill addressing several other topics related to the COVID-19 response. Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to sign the bill in short order.
Ohioans who already cast primary ballots are good to go and will have their votes counted. Those who did not vote early will now have the next month to cast absentee ballots through mail.
READ THE FULL STORY FROM THE OHIO CAPITAL JOURNAL…
THE LEGISLATURE’S PRIMARY ELECTION PLAN AS EXPLAINED TODAY BY THE OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE
- The Ohio Secretary of State must design, print and mail approximately 7.8 million informational postcards to every registered Ohioan that explains to them how to obtain the form necessary to request an absentee ballot.
- Based on preliminary estimates from prospective vendors, it is expected that these postcards will reach registered voters in the second week of April.
- Voters who want to cast a ballot must then either print out an absentee ballot request form themselves or call their county board and ask for one to be sent to them.
- Voters must then affix their own postage and send the request to their county board of elections.
- Boards must then process the request, print the ballot and send it to the voter.
- Each voter must receive their ballot, cast their vote, and return the ballot in a postage-paid envelope, postmarked by April 27th.
