COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced voting for military and overseas voters begins today, Friday, March 19, 2021 for the upcoming Primary/Special Election which will be held on May 4, 2021. The full, detailed, and interactive 2021 elections calendar is available online.

“It is personally important to me that those who answer the call to duty have their voice heard when it comes to how their country is run back home,” said LaRose. “This process is in place to ensure that all Ohioans who are overseas, especially those who work to preserve our freedom, have ample time to perform one of their most basic American rights - voting!”

Military and overseas voters who have not yet registered to vote or submitted a request for an absentee ballot may still do so by visiting the Ohio Secretary of State’s elections website at VoteOhio.gov. Voters can download the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), register to vote, request an absentee ballot, read through frequently asked questions, and track the status of their mailed ballot.

Due to increased cybersecurity efforts in response to attempted foreign interference in U.S. elections, users in some countries or unsecured locations (i.e. public WiFi and internet cafes) may not be able to immediately access their county or state website. If that occurs, please visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at FVAP.gov or call the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office at 614-466-2585. The Federal Voting Assistance Program is affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense and ensures all Service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens have the tools and resources to exercise their right to vote.

Additionally, a spouse, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of the whole blood or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece may request a ballot for you. That individual may use the Secretary of State prescribed Form 11-E, providing a mailing address, fax number, or email address at which you can receive the absentee ballot. This request may be made by mail or in person at  your board of elections.

UOCAVA ballots may be returned by U.S. Postal Service, APO/FPO System, diplomatic pouch or another delivery service such as UPS or FedEx, or in person. An absentee ballot must arrive at the board office by the close of polls on Election Day if delivered in person. An absentee ballot returned by mail shall be submitted for mailing not later than 12:01 a.m. at the place where the voter completes the ballot, on the date of the election. It must arrive at the board of elections office on or before the 10th day after the election.

ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL AND IN-PERSON

• All other Ohio voters may begin voting on April 6, 2021 via in-person and by mail-in absentee ballot for the May 4, 2021 Primary/Special Election. For more information, visit VoteOhio.gov.

REGISTER TO VOTE/UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS

• The deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration ahead of the May 4, 2021 Primary/Special Election is April 5, 2021 (30 days before the election). Voters may go to VoteOhio.gov to register online or update an existing registration. Voter registration forms can also be printed from VoteOhio.gov or obtained from a local library or county board of elections office.

VOTER TOOLKIT

• The online Voter Toolkit is a one-stop location for all necessary voting information. Ohio voters can visit VoteOhio.gov to check their voter registration status, find their polling location, view their sample ballot and track their absentee ballot.

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