Voting process undergoes major changes

PERKINS TWP. — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 458 into law on Jan. 6, which makes changes to the way elections are done in Ohio. Ahead of the election, on May 2, the Erie County elections board wanted to publicize the changes to make voters aware. The five main changes that will affect voters in this election are as follows: 1. Voting by mail Someone who wishes to vote by mail must submit an absentee ballot application by a week before the election, specifically by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25. Previously, the deadline to submit an absentee ballot application was always by noon on the Saturday before the election. Voters may still place their absentee ballot applications in the secure drop box by the water department building at 2900 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, within the Erie County Services Center complex. The box is a drive-up box and is accessible 24/7. 2. Early/In-person voting The hours for early voting at the elections board, 2900 Columbus Ave., have changed. Beginning this past Monday, they are: • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, April 21 • 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 24 • 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 • 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26; Thursday, April 27; and Friday, April 28 • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 29 • 1-5 p.m. Sunday, April 30 There is no more early voting on the Monday before the election. 3. Photo identification for in-person voting Voters wishing to vote in-person, whether early at the elections board or on Election Day at their polling locations, must show a valid, unexpired photo identification. There are several types of valid photo identification: • Ohio driver's license • State of Ohio identification card • Interim identification form issued by the Ohio BMV • A U.S. passport or passport card • A U.S. military identification card • An Ohio National Guard identification card • A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs identification card All photo identifications must have the following: • An expiration date that has not expired • A photograph of the voter • The voter's name that must substantially conform to the voter's name as it appears in the poll list or in the poll book An unexpired Ohio driver's license, state identification card or interim documentation with the voter's former address is an acceptable form of identification when the voter's current address is in the poll book. Ohio law prohibits the following forms of identification to vote: • A driver's license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio • Social Security card • Birth certificate • Insurance card • Utility bill • Bank statement • Government check • Paycheck • Some other government document or any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections. 4. Provisional voting If an in-person voter does not provide one of the acceptable forms of photo identification, that person may still vote via a provisional ballot. But, for that ballot to be counted, that person must return to the elections board no later than four days following Election Day — which, in this cycle, is Saturday, May 6 — to provide a qualifying form of identification. If a voter does not have photo identification because of a religious objection to being photographed, then that person may complete an affidavit of religious objection for a provisional ballot to count. 5. Returning absentee ballots and curing ballots The deadline for absentee ballots to arrive at an elections board office is the fourth day after Election Day — which, in this cycle, is Saturday, May 6. Absentee ballots for non-Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act voters that arrive after the polls close must be postmarked by the day before Election Day. Absentee voters who need to provide additional or corrected information have until the fourth day after Election Day to do so, which is May 6. The elections board will be open the following days and hours after the election for voters to cure a deficiency on an absentee or provisional ballot as provided for in state law: • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3; Thursday, May 4; and Friday, May 5 • 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 6 People can contact the Erie County elections board at 419-627-7601 or email erie@ohiosos.gov with questions. Editor's note: In May, for Erie County, there are only a few issues on the ballot, meaning some people who live in Erie County might not be able to vote. The issues of note include bond issues for Edison Schools and Perkins Schools; three local options in the precinct Sandusky G; a Vermilion River Ambulance District levy in Florence Township; and a Republican primary in Bellevue.