In Lorain County, Absentee Ballots Must Be Requested

Absentee voting in Lorain County begins on Oct. 4, and registered voters can now request an absentee ballot application from the Lorain County Board of Elections.

As Dave Stambol, a clerk with the Board of Elections explains, obtaining an absentee ballot is easy, and voters can avoid bad weather and long lines by utilizing the county’s absentee balloting system.

Unlike some states, such as Connecticut, which requires such as being an active military service member, out of town during polling hours or you’re sick or physically disabled, Ohio does not require a reason to use an absentee ballot.

“Anyone can request one,” Stambol said. “It’s a no-fault absentee ballot.”

In Lorain County, registered voters can request an absentee ballot application by telephone, by calling 440-326-5900 or 440-326-5901.

Online, the Absentee Voter Application (pdf) can be downloaded and mailed or dropped off at: Lorain Co. Board of Elections, Absentee Department, 1985 North Ridge Rd., East Lorain, OH 44055. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Once the absentee ballots are available for voting, the eligible voter may receive and return an absentee ballot in person at the county board of elections office or by U.S. Mail. (Special rules apply for the Armed Forces. See website for details.)

Please be aware of absentee voting deadlines: For the Nov. 8 General Election, absentee voting begins Oct. 4. The board must receive your request for the application by noon on the Saturday before the election and with the exception of voters hospitalized due to emergencies, as described under the Absentee Deadlines section, absentee voting ends the day before the election.

Stambol said using the absentee voting system has advantages.

“The more people do it the less lines you have,” he said. “Otherwise, you’re always taking a chance of bad weather and long lines."

Those using the absentee system must make a new request for an abstentee ballot for each election; requests do not roll over to the next election.

Lorain County has differed from Cuyahoga County, which until this year, mailed out forms to every resident in the county soliciting absentee ballot applications.