reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3506 | Voting and Tabulating Equipment › Section 3506.13 | Challengers and Witnesses in Precincts Where Marking Devices, Automatic Tabulating Equipment, Voting Machines, or Any Combination of These Are Used.

Effective:
June 1, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
In precincts where marking devices, automatic tabulating equipment, voting machines, or any combination of these are used, observers may be appointed as prescribed in section 3505.21 of the Revised Code. The duties and privileges of observers in such precincts during the hours the polls are open shall be as provided in section 3505.21 of the Revised Code.
Observers shall be allowed to remain in the polling place after the polls close and may observe the processing of the ballots and the sealing and signing of the envelopes or containers or both containing the voted ballots.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3506 | Voting and Tabulating Equipment › Section 3506.14 | Testing and Auditing of Voting Equipment.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
(A) Prior to each election, the board of elections shall do both of the following as instructed by the secretary of state:
(1) Test and audit the variable codes applicable to that election to verify the accuracy of any computer program that will be used for tallying the ballot cards for each precinct in which an election will be held;
(2) Conduct systematic logic and accuracy testing of every component of every voting machine, marking device, or piece of automatic tabulating equipment with every ballot style to be used in the election to ascertain that the ballots are accurate and that the machines, devices, and equipment will accurately record, mark, or count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions and issues, as applicable. The test shall be conducted by processing a pre-audited group of ballots so marked as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each question and issue, and shall include for each office one or more ballots that have votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the automatic tabulating equipment to reject those votes. In that test a different number of valid votes shall be assigned to each candidate for an office, and for and against each question and issue. If an error is detected, the cause for the error shall be ascertained and corrected and an errorless count shall be made and certified to by the board before the count is started.
(B) All automatic tabulating equipment to be used in an election shall pass the same testing described in division (A)(2) of this section at the beginning and conclusion of the election day count before the election returns are approved as official.
(C) The board shall give public notice of the time and place of all testing to be conducted under this section by proclamation or posting as in the case of notice of elections. All testing under this section shall be conducted by bipartisan teams of election officials.
(D) No voting machine, marking device, or piece of automatic tabulating equipment shall be used in an election in this state without undergoing successful testing under this section.
(E) On completion of the election day count, the programs, test materials, and ballots shall be sealed and retained as provided for paper ballots in section 3505.31 of the Revised Code.
Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:01 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3506 | Voting and Tabulating Equipment › Section 3506.15 | Secretary of State to Promulgate Rules for Equipment and Conduct of Elections.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
The secretary of state shall provide each board of elections with rules, instructions, directives, and advisories regarding the examination, testing, and use of the voting machine and tabulating equipment, the assignment of duties of booth officials, the procedure for casting a vote on the machine, and how the vote shall be tallied and reported to the board, and with other rules, instructions, directives, and advisories the secretary of state finds necessary to ensure the adequate care and custody of voting equipment, and the accurate registering, counting, and canvassing of the votes as required by this chapter. The boards of elections shall be charged with the responsibility of providing for the adequate instruction of voters and election officials in the proper use of the voting machine and marking devices.
The secretary of state's rules, instructions, directives, and advisories provided under this section shall comply, insofar as practicable, with this chapter. The provisions of Title XXXV of the Revised Code, not inconsistent with the provisions relating to voting machines, apply in any county using a voting machine.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3506 | Voting and Tabulating Equipment › Section 3506.18 | Electronic Voting Machine - Verified Paper Audit Trail as Official Ballot in Recount.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
(A) For any recount of an election in which ballots are cast using a direct recording electronic voting machine with a voter verified paper audit trail, the voter verified paper audit trail shall serve as the official ballot to be recounted.
(B) Voter verified paper audit trails shall be preserved in the same manner and for the same time period as paper ballots are preserved under section 3505.31 of the Revised Code.
(C) A voter verified paper audit trail shall be treated as are other ballots for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall be retained in accordance with the county records retention schedule established under section 149.38 of the Revised Code after the relevant time period prescribed for its preservation in section 3505.31 of the Revised Code, or as ordered by the secretary of state or a court of competent jurisdiction.
(D) If a voter verified paper audit trail is made available to the public, any information on that voter verified paper audit trail that identifies the particular direct recording electronic voting machine that produced it shall be redacted.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3506 | Voting and Tabulating Equipment › Section 3506.19 | Disability-Accessible Electronic Voting Machine to Be Required at Each Polling Place.

Effective:
April 6, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly
On and after the first federal election that occurs after January 1, 2006, unless required sooner by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, each polling location shall have available for use at all elections at least one direct recording electronic voting machine or marking device that is accessible for individuals with disabilities, including nonvisual accessibility for persons who are blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy and independence, as for other voters.
Last updated March 10, 2023 at 12:13 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3506 | Voting and Tabulating Equipment › Section 3506.20 | Tracking Number Required for Ballots on Demand System.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
(A) As used in this section, "ballots on demand voting system" means a system that utilizes ballots printed as needed by election officials at the board of elections for distribution to electors, either in person or by mail.
(B) No board of elections shall use a ballots on demand voting system unless each ballot printed by the system includes a tracking number.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3506 | Voting and Tabulating Equipment › Section 3506.21 | Optical Scan Ballot Marking Requirements.

Effective:
February 27, 2008
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 286 - 127th General Assembly
(A) As used in this section, "optical scan ballot" means a ballot that is marked by using a specified writing instrument to fill in a designated position to record a voter's candidate, question, or issue choice and that can be scanned and electronically read in order to tabulate the vote.
(B)(1) In addition to marks that can be scanned and electronically read by automatic tabulating equipment, any of the following marks, if a majority of those marks are made in a consistent manner throughout an optical scan ballot, shall be counted as a valid vote:
(a) A candidate, question, or issue choice that has been circled by the voter;
(b) An oval beside the candidate, question, or issue choice that has been circled by the voter;
(c) An oval beside the candidate, question, or issue choice that has been marked by the voter with an "x," a check mark, or other recognizable mark;
(d) A candidate, question, or issue choice that has been marked with a writing instrument that cannot be recognized by automatic tabulating equipment.
(2) Marks made on an optical scan ballot in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section shall be counted as valid votes only if that optical scan ballot contains no marks that can be scanned and electronically read by automatic tabulating equipment.
(3) If automatic tabulating equipment detects that more marks were made on an optical scan ballot for a particular office, question, or issue than the number of selections that a voter is allowed by law to make for that office, question, or issue, the voter's ballot shall be invalidated for that office, question, or issue. The ballot shall not be invalidated for any other office, question, or issue for which the automatic tabulating equipment detects a vote to have been cast, in accordance with the law.
(C) The secretary of state may adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to authorize additional types of optical scan ballots and to specify the types of marks on those ballots that shall be counted as a valid vote to ensure consistency in the counting of ballots throughout the state.
(D)(1) A board of elections of a county that uses optical scan ballots and automatic tabulating equipment as the primary voting system for the county shall not tabulate the unofficial results of optical scan ballots voted on election day at a central location.
(2) A board of elections that provides for the tabulation at each precinct of voted ballots, and then, at a central location, combines those precinct ballot totals with ballot totals from other precincts, including optical scan ballots voted by absent voters, shall not be considered to be tabulating the unofficial results of optical scan ballots at a central location for the purpose of division (D)(1) of this section.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3506 | Voting and Tabulating Equipment › Section 3506.22 | Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machines After 2012.

Effective:
March 20, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 200 - 130th General Assembly
(A) Beginning in the year 2013 and thereafter, a county that selects direct recording electronic voting machines as the primary voting system to be used in the county and not only for accessibility for individuals with disabilities as required under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and section 3506.19 of the Revised Code shall acquire, if needed, sufficient direct recording electronic voting machines to meet the minimum number of direct recording electronic voting machines required to be established by the secretary of state under division (B) of this section.
(B) Beginning in the year 2013 and every eight years thereafter, the secretary of state shall establish, for each county, a minimum number of direct recording electronic voting machines that the county shall be required to have if it elects to use direct recording electronic voting machines as the primary voting system in the county. The minimum number for each county shall be calculated as follows:
(1) The total number of registered voters in the county as of the October deadline for voter registration for the last presidential election or the average of the total number of registered voters in the county as of the October deadline for voter registration for the last two presidential elections, whichever number is higher, minus the total number of absent voter's ballots cast and counted at the last presidential election, shall be determined.
(2) The number resulting from the determination under division (B)(1) of this section shall be divided by one hundred seventy-five.
(3) Any fraction resulting from the calculation under division (B)(2) of this section shall be rounded up to the next whole number.
(C) A county that selects direct recording electronic voting machines as the primary voting system to be used in the county and not only for accessibility for individuals with disabilities as required under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and section 3506.19 of the Revised Code after May 2, 2006, but before the year 2013 shall do so in accordance with the formula set forth in Section 514.03 of Am. Sub. H.B. 66 of the 126th general assembly.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3506 | Voting and Tabulating Equipment › Section 3506.24 | Elected Official Ownership Interest in Voting System Manufacturer.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Elected official" means an elected officer of the state, any political subdivision, or the United States, other than a member of a central committee of a political party.
(2) "Voter registration system" means software and any related equipment used by a board of elections or the secretary of state to process, store, organize, maintain, or retrieve voter registration records.
(B)(1) No voter registration system, voting machine, marking device, or automatic tabulating equipment shall be used for the purpose of conducting elections in this state if an elected official or the spouse of an elected official is a partner, owner, or member of the person or entity that manufactured, assembled, or otherwise made the system, machine, device, or equipment or of the person or entity from which the system, machine, device, or equipment is acquired.
(2) For purposes of division (B)(1) of this section, an elected official or the spouse of an elected official is not considered an owner of a publicly traded person or entity if the elected official's and the spouse's combined ownership interest in the person or entity is less than ten per cent.
Last updated January 31, 2023 at 4:49 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3509 | Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3509.01 | Absent Voter's Ballot Procedures.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
(A) The board of elections of each county shall provide absent voter's ballots for use at every primary and general election, or special election to be held on the day 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. Those ballots shall be the same size, shall be printed on the same kind of paper, and shall be in the same form as has been approved for use at the election for which those ballots are to be voted; except that, in counties using marking devices, ballot cards may be used for absent voter's ballots, and those absent voters shall be instructed to record the vote in the manner provided on the ballot cards.
(B) The rotation of names of candidates and questions and issues shall be substantially complied with on absent voter's ballots, within the limitation of time allotted. Those ballots shall be designated as "Absent Voter's Ballots." Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, those ballots shall be printed and ready for use as follows:
(1) For overseas voters and absent uniformed services voters eligible to vote 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, ballots shall be printed and ready for use other than in person on the forty-sixth day before the day of the election.
(2) For all other voters, ballots shall be printed and ready for use on the first day after the close of voter registration before the election.
(C) Absent voter's ballots provided for use at a general or primary election, or special election to be held on the day 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, shall include only those questions, issues, and candidacies that have been lawfully ordered submitted to the electors voting at that election.
(D) If the laws governing the holding of a special election on a day other than the day on which a primary or general election is held make it impossible for absent voter's ballots to be printed and ready for use by the deadlines established in division (B) of this section, absent voter's ballots for those special elections shall be ready for use as many days before the day of the election as reasonably possible under the laws governing the holding of that special election.
(E) A copy of the absent voter's ballots shall be forwarded by the director of the board in each county to the secretary of state at least twenty-five days before the election.
Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:02 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3509 | Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3509.02 | Qualifications for Voting by Absent Voter's Ballot.

Effective:
August 15, 2012
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly
(A) Any qualified elector may vote by absent voter's ballots at an election.
(B) Any qualified elector who is unable to appear at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location on account of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity, and who moves from one precinct to another within a county, changes the elector's name and moves from one precinct to another within a county, or moves from one county to another county within the state, on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence or change of name may vote by absent voter's ballots in that election as specified in division (G) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3509 | Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3509.021 | Identification Envelopes Containing Absent Voter's Ballots for Former Resident Voters in Presidential Elections.

Effective:
October 27, 2011
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 224 - 129th General Assembly
All identification envelopes containing absent voter's ballots for former resident voters who are entitled to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors only, shall have printed or stamped thereon the words, "Presidential Ballot."
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3509 | Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3509.051 | Casting Absent Voter's Ballots in Person.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
An elector may appear at the office of the board of elections to cast absent voter's ballots in person instead of applying for those ballots under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code. Notwithstanding section 3509.05 or any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, all of the following shall apply to the casting of absent voter's ballots in person:
(A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section, in-person absent voting shall be permitted only during the period beginning on the first day after the close of voter registration before the election and ending at five p.m. on the Sunday before the day of the election.
(2) If, at the time for the close of in-person absent voting on a particular day, there are voters waiting in line to cast their ballots, the in-person absent voting location shall be kept open until such waiting voters have cast their absent voter's ballots.
(B) An in-person absent voter shall provide photo identification to the election officials, sign a poll list or signature pollbook, and cast a ballot in the same manner as a voter who casts a ballot in person on the day of an election under section 3505.18 of the Revised Code.
The absent voter shall not be required to complete a written application for absent voter's ballots or a statement of voter on an absent voter's ballot identification envelope.
(C) No person other than an election official shall be permitted to challenge the right to vote of an absent voter who is casting a ballot in person. An election official may challenge the right to vote of an absent voter who is casting a ballot in person in the same manner as a precinct election official may challenge the right to vote of an elector on the day of an election under section 3505.20 or 3513.19 of the Revised Code.
(D) An individual who appears to cast absent voter's ballots in person and is eligible to cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code shall be permitted to do so as though the individual had appeared at a polling place on the day of the election.
(E) No absent voter may receive a replacement ballot after the voter's absent voter's ballot has been scanned or entered into automatic tabulating equipment.
(F) Ballots cast under this section, other than provisional ballots, may be recorded by a voting machine or scanned by automatic tabulating equipment before the close of the polls on the day of the election, but the board of elections shall not tabulate or count the votes on those ballots before that time.
Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:04 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3509 | Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3509.07 | Rejection and Challenge of Absent Voter Ballots.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
If election officials find that any of the following are true concerning an absent voter's ballot or absent voter's presidential ballot cast under section 3503.16, 3509.05, 3509.08, or 3511.09 of the Revised Code and, if applicable, the person did not provide any required additional information to the board of elections not later than the fourth day after the day of the election, as permitted under division (D)(3)(b) or (E)(2) of section 3509.06 of the Revised Code, the ballot shall not be accepted or counted:
(A) The statement accompanying the ballot is incomplete as described in division (D)(3)(a) of section 3509.06 of the Revised Code or is insufficient;
(B) The signatures do not correspond with the person's registration signature;
(C) The applicant is not a qualified elector in the precinct;
(D) The ballot envelope contains more than one ballot of any one kind, or any voted ballot that the elector is not entitled to vote;
(E) Stub A is detached from the absent voter's ballot or absent voter's presidential ballot; or
(F) The elector has not included with the elector's ballot any identification required under section 3509.05 or 3511.09 of the Revised Code.
The vote of any absent voter may be challenged for cause in the same manner as other votes are challenged, and the election officials shall determine the legality of that ballot. Every ballot not counted shall be endorsed on its back "Not Counted" with the reasons the ballot was not counted, and shall be enclosed and returned to or retained by the board of elections along with the contested ballots.
Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:05 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3509 | Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3509.10 | Uniformed Services and Overseas Absent Voters.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
If a board of elections receives an application for absent voter's ballots under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code and it is apparent to the board that the absent voter is a uniformed services voter or overseas voter, as defined in section 3511.01 of the Revised Code, the board shall consider that applicant to have applied for uniformed services or overseas ballots under Chapter 3511. of the Revised Code and shall provide those ballots to that voter in accordance with the timelines and procedures applicable to uniformed services and overseas absent voters.
Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:07 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.01 | Definitions.

Effective:
October 27, 2011
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 224 - 129th General Assembly
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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.03 | Form of Ballots.

Effective:
July 2, 2010
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly
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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.04 | Ballot Sent by Mail, Facsimile Machine or Other Means.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
(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
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.051 | Marking of Identification Envelopes Containing Presidential Ballots.

Effective:
March 23, 1972
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 460 - 109th General Assembly
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."
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.06 | Size and Quality of Identification and Return Envelopes.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
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
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.07 | Mailing Precautions.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
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
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.08 | Record of Distribution.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
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
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.09 | Voting Procedure.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
(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
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.10 | Voting at Board of Elections.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
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
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.11 | Procedure Upon Board Receiving Ballots.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
(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
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.12 | Counting Armed Service Absent Voter's Ballots.

Effective:
September 8, 2016
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 359 - 131st General Assembly
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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.14 | Acceptance and Processing of Federal Write-in Ballots.

Effective:
August 15, 2012
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly
(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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.15 | Emergency Absentee Voting Procedures.

Effective:
October 27, 2011
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 224 - 129th General Assembly
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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3511 | Armed Services Absent Voter's Ballots › Section 3511.16 | Election Notice to Be Used With Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot.

Effective:
October 27, 2011
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 224 - 129th General Assembly
(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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3513 | Primaries; Nominations › Section 3513.02 | Certificate of Nomination When No Primary Necessary.

Effective:
August 15, 2012
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly
If, in any odd-numbered year, no valid declaration of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political party for election to any of the offices to be voted for at the general election to be held in such year, or if the number of persons filing such declarations of candidacy for nominations as candidates of one political party for election to such offices does not exceed, as to any such office, the number of candidates which such political party is entitled to nominate as its candidates for election to such office, then no primary election shall be held for the purpose of nominating party candidates of such party for election to offices to be voted for at such general election and no primary ballots shall be provided for such party. If, however, the only office for which there are more valid declarations of candidacy filed than the number to be nominated by a political party, is the office of councilperson in a ward, a primary election shall be held for such party only in the ward or wards in which there is a contest, and only the names of the candidates for the office of councilperson in such ward shall appear on the primary ballot of such political party.
The election officials whose duty it would have been to provide for and conduct the holding of such primary election, declare the results thereof, and issue certificates of nomination to the persons entitled thereto if such primary election had been held shall declare each of such persons to be nominated as of the date of the ninetieth day before the primary election, issue appropriate certificates of nomination to each of them, and certify their names to the proper election officials, in order that their names may be printed on the official ballots provided for use in the succeeding general election in the same manner as though such primary election had been held and such persons had been nominated at such election.