Local Election Boards Get Record Number of Absentee Votes Ready

Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Topics: Politics
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Ohio's Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner says nearly 1.5 million Ohioans have asked for mail-in or in-person absentee ballots. That's about 1 in 5 Ohio voters. Northeast Ohio Boards of Elections will be getting those vote by mail ballots ready for election day. ideastream®'s Mhari Saito reports.

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner allows boards to start opening vote by mail ballots up to ten days prior to the Nov. 4th election. Many local boards take advantage of the rule to help alleviate the crush on election day.  Actual counting, or tabulating, of ballots does not happen until after polls close.

Medina County has started scanning ballots; others like Lake, Trumbull and Portage will start in the next few days.

Vote by Mail ballots include two envelopes, and both must be used and sealed.  Jan Clair, director of the Lake County Board of Elections, says her office has been sending dozens of letters to voters who forgot to put their ballot in the inner envelope and seal it.

Jan Clair: That’s required by law. So we’re just trying to remind all the voters as they cast their vote - whether its in person, whether its by mail, whether its on equipment. However they’re casting their vote, take your time. Do everything to make sure that your vote counts.

Last spring, Lucas County tossed over 900 votes because ballots were not enclosed in an inner envelope that includes voter identification information.  Mhari Saito, 90.3.