OHIO, USA — Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has announced Tuesday that the county boards of elections have received 1,398,347 absentee ballot applications statewide.
In the past week, 400,000 new absentee ballots were requested by Ohio voters.
Military and overseas voters account for 15,806 ballot requests, which will be mailed beginning Friday, September 18, according to a press release from the Secretary's office. All other ballots will be mailed starting on October 6th.
With just 49 days to go until Election Day, the amount of absentee ballot requests are significantly higher compared to the 524,631 requests that were made at the same time in the 2016 election.
"Ohioans continue to show incredible confidence in our absentee voting system, and our county boards are well-equipped to handle the surge in requests," LaRose stated in the release. "Whether voting early in-person, at your polling location on election day, or from the comfort of your own home, Ohioans will have their voice heard this fall."
According to Secretary LaRose 87% of Ohio's $12.8 million CARES Act allocation was sent directly to the county boards in anticipation of the large amount of voters requesting absentee ballots this year. The money will ensure their election infrastructure, wages for temporary personnel and other costs are covered.
