Board of Elections officials outline voting process
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Local residents have started receiving absentee ballot applications from three separate sources, which has caused some confusion.
"We have received a number of calls from voters who are concerned or had questions about the absentee voting process," Karen Pawloski, deputy director of the Washington County Board of Elections, said Wednesday. "I know that they've received different applications."
She explained that if a voter requested an absentee ballot from the board's office, they will send out an application. Everyone has to complete an application before they can get the ballot in the mail. Ballots cannot be mailed until Oct. 6.
Residents may see one, or all three, of the applications, which are "legitimate and legal applications," Pawloski noted.
One is from the Center for Voter Information, which is a nonprofit organization which provides resources to help voting-eligible citizens register and vote.
"I know President (Donald) Trump's campaign has also sent out absentee ballot applications," Pawloski said. "They come in a card or there's a full-size page application."
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has sent out applications to every registered voter in Ohio.
"The problem is that when folks are getting these, you fill out one, but you don't have to fill out another one," she explained. "We're telling people if they have not received an application by Sept. 10, contact our office and we will send you an application for an absentee ballot."
Mandy Amos, board of elections director, said if a person comes into their office for in-person early voting, the application doesn't need to be filled out. In-person voting starts Oct. 6.
"These are only if you want them to send a ballot to your home," she noted.
Pawloski said there are five things needed on the application before the ballot can be sent out: the voter's name, mailing address if different from the physical address, the physical address, the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number or their driver's license number, and a signature.
"There's a lot of times that we receive these applications and there's no signature on it," she said. "We must have their signature on the application."
Amos said there will be four weeks of early voting.
"That gives people ample time to come in for in-person voting here," Pawloski said, adding voters who visit the board's office to vote will be social distanced and everyone is asked to wear a mask.
According to LaRose's office, he has launched a public service announcement, in partnership with the Ohio Association of Broadcasters, to encourage Ohioans to register to vote and motivate those choosing to vote by absentee to return their ballot request forms as soon as possible. Ohioans will continue to have three options to cast their ballot this fall -- in-person on Election Day, early in-person, or absentee.