Absentee Ballots Ready For Voters

Brett Kolb, director of the Fulton County Board of Elections, said county voters who wish to cast an absentee ballot in the March 4 primary election can do so now.

"The deadline is Feb. 8, but we're ready now," he said.

In the past, a voter had to meet one of several criteria to cast an absentee ballot, such as being out of town on election day, be a police officer or firefighter, or be over 62 years of age.

But in 2006, Kolb said Ohio went to "no fault" absentee ballots. There's no restriction or requirement. Anyone can vote absentee without giving a reason.

Absentee ballots can be obtained in person or by mail.

Persons wishing to vote early may go the Board of Elections office in Wauseon, where they can vote either on a paper ballot or use a voting machine.

To request a ballot by mail, they can pick up an application the at board office, mail in an application from the board's website, or send a letter.

To request by letter, the voter must include his name and address, date of birth, the last four digits of his social security number, or a driver license number, or provide a utility bill or bank statement, "something that has your name associated with the address," he said.

The voter can ask that the ballot be mailed to a second address, such as a vacation home.

Because the March 4 election is a primary, voters must declare their political affiliation, Republican or Democrat, or ask for an issues-only, non-partisan ballot.