COLUMBUS, Ohio — Election Day in Ohio is just over two months away, and Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office has begun sending absentee ballot application forms to every registered voter in the state.
Officials say those forms should begin arriving in voters' mailboxes this week. However, scams can always occur, and LaRose is warning voters to be wary of materials that aren't labeled as "official election mail."
"As various groups and campaigns ramp up their communication with voters, every Ohioan should be vigilant when completing any forms that are not labeled official election mail or from Ohio's trusted source for election information, VoteOhio.gov," the secretary said in a statement.
While every voter will receive a form, those wishing for an absentee ballot must fill out their applications and send them to their county board of elections. LaRose's office suggests doing so as quickly as possible to give postal workers enough time to process the mail.
Once the signatures and social security numbers on the applications are verified by a bipartisan team, those voters will receive blank ballots around Oct. 8, which after being filled out must again mailed or delivered directly to respective boards of elections by the Nov. 5 election. Voters can track the status of their ballots at VoteOhio.gov/Track.
Mail-in voting has been the subject of many false and misleading attacks in recent years, including from former President Donald Trump. However, the Secretary of State's Office describes the process as "time-tested" with "strong security checks in place," and the Republican LaRose has shared statistics showing the extreme rarity of voter fraud.
"Whether you are voting absentee, early in-person, or on Election Day, Ohioans should be confident in Ohio’s three convenient and secure methods when they cast their ballot," LaRose added.
Voters can also request absentee ballots by downloading the form here or calling or going directly to their county boards of elections. In addition, the Secretary of State's Office will mail out a second round of applications around Oct. 7 to newly registered voters who submit their information prior to that day's registration deadline.