Ohio's LaRose Says Mail Ballot Requests Due 8 p.m. Tuesday

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said requests for mail-in ballots must reach county boards of elections by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. A ballot requested by that deadline might not arrive before Election Day, LaRose said.

LaRose said a ballot that does arrive should be returned to a county Board of Elections drop box. He said mailing a completed ballot back at this point risks missing the deadline for postal delivery. "It is still legally permissible to mail in your absentee ballot, but it may not be a good idea at this point just given the time that it takes for things to move through the postal system," LaRose said. Most completed ballots must be received by the end of Election Day.

A voter who orders a ballot and does not receive one by Election Day can vote at their precinct, LaRose said. In that case, the voter would cast a provisional ballot.

In-person early voting continues this weekend at county Boards of Elections Early Voting Centers. Voters are required to bring a photo ID. Details on weekend voting are posted at voteohio.org.

The Department of Justice will place observers in polling places in Franklin, Cuyahoga and Medina counties on Election Day. LaRose said the department could add counties to that list closer to the election. He said observers have been sent to polling places under both the Biden and Trump administrations.

Observers work under strict limits, LaRose said. "They operate under very specific rules. They may not impede voters. They may not interfere in the process whatsoever. It's right there in the name. They are observers, and they may observe, but that's about it."

The Justice Department has called its Election Day monitoring effort its largest to date, covering every state.