Ottawa County voters can cast an early in-person ballot from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, October 23, at the Ottawa County Board of Elections, 8444 W. State Route 163, Suite 101, in Oak Harbor, ahead of the November 3 general election. The hours follow the statewide early-voting schedule set by the Ohio Secretary of State.
Early voting in Ohio began on October 6 and runs through Sunday, November 1. After this week, the Oak Harbor office opens for early voting on Saturday, October 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and hours lengthen in the final week: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on October 26 and October 28 through 30, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on October 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 1. There is no early in-person voting on Monday, November 2.
Voters who prefer to vote by mail can still request an absentee ballot, but the deadline is close. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the board of elections by 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27. Voters can also vote absentee in person at the board office during the early-voting hours listed above.
Completed absentee ballots must be received by the board by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, to be counted. Ballots returned by mail from military and overseas voters have a separate deadline of November 7. The board’s office can be reached at 419-898-3071 with questions about an absentee request or a voter’s registration.
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, Ottawa County voters who have not voted early or by mail will vote at their assigned polling places, with polls open statewide from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters should bring an accepted photo ID and can check their registration, polling place and sample ballot through the Ohio Secretary of State’s website or the county board before heading out.
County boards across Ohio report steady early turnout in the election’s third week, and election officials remind voters that casting a ballot early in person is the surest way to avoid Election Day lines. Ottawa County voters who miss the early-voting window after November 1 will need to vote at their polling place on November 3.
The Ottawa County Board of Elections is open for regular business Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at its Oak Harbor office on State Route 163. Voters with questions about early voting, absentee ballots or what is on their ballot can call the board or visit its website ahead of the November 3 election.
Photo: LeeG7144, CC BY-SA