Ohio elections officials have begun mailing absentee ballot request forms to all 8 million registered voters ahead of the November election. That means these forms should start hitting voters’ mailboxes soon – if they haven’t already.
The mailings contain several documents, including a letter from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose – a Republican who’s the state’s top elections official – an official absentee ballot application form and a return envelope. Ohioans who want to vote by mail can return a completed form to their local elections board.
Ohio sends such documents to voters during all presidential and mid-term election years. But this year’s mailings are arriving amid President Donald Trump’s push to give the federal government more control over voting by mail. This includes trying to give the U.S. Postal Service new authority to check ballot envelopes against voter information collected from state and local election officials – before delivering them to election boards. The Postal Service is not yet doing this because the new system and its formal rules have been blocked by by legal challenges. So, voting by mail remains under the authority of the states.
The 2025 election in Ohio includes a contested governor’s race, as well as U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate races that could decide control of Congress. So, with so much attention and campaigning happening here, voters are seeing and hearing a lot from campaigns and political parties about voting by mail.
Here’s a rundown of what voters need to know about voting by mail in the upcoming November election.
How will Trump’s push to assert control over vote by mail affect me?
At the moment, it doesn’t. Voters and election officials in Ohio need to follow the same state rules that have been in place for years.
If I want a mail ballot, do I have to use the applications arriving from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office?
No. But you must use an official absentee ballot request form. The Secretary of State’s Office is not the only entity that mails voters such forms during big elections.
Third-party groups also are allowed to circulate absentee ballot applications and they do.
But third-party groups sending absentee ballot applications must use the official state form, like the one the state is mailing out this week. LaRose issued a statement on Thursday encouraging voters to be careful.
“As various groups and campaigns ramp up their communication with voters, every Ohioan should be vigilant when completing any forms that are not labeled official election mail,” LaRose said.
Here are images of the envelope, and enclosed letter and application form, that the state mailed out this week so you can recognize them.
If voters are unsure about the authenticity of their form, they can download a copy of the form directly from the Secretary of State’s website.
Why is Ohio doing this?
Ohio has sent unsolicited absentee ballot request forms to every registered voter ahead of the November election in every mid-term or presidential election since 2012. State law says the Secretary of State “may” do so as long as the state legislature approves the spending.
Does Ohio also send mail ballots to all registered voters?
No, local elections officials only send mail ballots to those who request them using an official form.
How many people vote by mail in Ohio?
About 1 million people voted by mail in the November 2024 presidential election. However, the number has been dropping for years as Trump has made rejected or unsubstantiated claims that the process is rife with fraud. Most people vote on Election Day, although there’s been an increase in in-person early voting.
🗳️ Looking for clear, nonpartisan election info? See what to know about Ohio’s November 2026 election and how it could affect your community.
I didn’t get a form. How can I check if I’m registered to vote?
You can use this state website or contact your local elections boared. Make sure your information is up to date. You can register to vote or update your registration online, by mail or in person at your local Board of Elections.
What’s the deadline to register to vote or update my registration?
For the upcoming November election, it’s Monday, Oct. 5.
Do I need to provide a photo ID to vote by mail?
No. Ohio does not require a photo ID to vote by mail. Though Ohio is voting on a voter-ID amendment this November, the amendment doesn’t affect voting by mail.
Voting by mail still has an ID requirement. Voters can fulfill it by providing the last four digits of their social security number, or their full driver’s license or state ID card number, on the state application form.
They also can photocopy their driver’s license or state ID and include it in their application envelope. But unlike in-person voting, it’s not mandatory.
What are common mistakes voters make in completing these forms?
Common mistakes voters make include forgetting to sign the form or writing today’s date on a section where they are required to provide their date of birth. Elections officials say voters need to make sure they fill out their absentee ballot application form completely.
What do I do with the form once I fill it out?
Mail it to your local elections board. You can also hand-deliver it, including by dropping it off in the secure ballot drop box that all elections offices have on site.
Here is a list of the addresses for each of 88 Ohio elections offices, as well as their hours of operation.
Can I track my ballot application in the mail?
Yes. This tool on the Secretary of State’s website allows you to see if your local elections board has received your application.
When will I get my absentee ballot?
Elections officials aren’t allowed to actually send mail ballots until Oct. 6, although military members and other overseas Ohioans get their ballots earlier.
When does early voting begin?
Ohio offers 22 days of early, in-person voting that begins on Tuesday, Oct. 6. It runs through Sunday, Nov. 1. You can see the full election calendar here.
What is the deadline to return my absentee application form?
Your local county Board of Elections must receive it by Tuesday, Oct. 27 by 8:30 p.m – a week before the election.
But elections officials and voter rights advocates recommend voters request and return their ballot applications as soon as possible to avoid potential problems caused by post office delays.
What about the Trump administration’s effort to impose more federal oversight of voting by mail?
President Trump issued an executive order earlier this year that directs federal agencies to create state-by-state databases of all U.S. adult citizens. He also ordered the Postal Service to develop new requirements for mail ballots.
The Postal Service has since issued a final rule that grants the agency the power to approve or reject state mail ballot envelope designs. This is part of the Trump administration’s new attempt to require unique bar codes for each envelope, matched to voters on a newly compiled federal database of state voters. The Postal Service could refuse to accept a mail ballot if the check finds the barcode doesn’t match the voter database.
In total, Trump’s efforts have led to concerns from voter-rights advocates, Democrats and others that the federal government is encroaching on states’ rights to administer elections, and that the new restrictions could lead to mail delays or eligible voters being blocked from voting by mail.
The proposed changes haven’t yet been enforced, since they are the subject of multiple active federal lawsuits, including one filed by a coalition of Democratic states and the other by a group of voting-rights activists.
In response to one of the lawsuits, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling on Aug. 24 – before the final rule came out – that allows the Trump administration to proceed with its preparations. But the high court has not approved the new rules themselves.
The cases remain unsettled.
How does this all affect me?
For now, the legal battle has meant that Ohio’s rules for mail voting have not changed ahead of the November election.
Asked about the legal and political uncertainty on Thursday, Ohio elections officials and voter-rights groups say that mail voting is secure, and remains a viable option for people who need it, especially older and student voters and voters with disabilities.
“The rules we have in place are the same rules that we’ve been using here in Ohio,” said Antone White, director of the Franklin County Board of Elections. “So there’s been no change. So voters should feel confident to request their ballot by mail.”
To get ahead of any potential delays, voters who want to cast a ballot by mail should get their application forms in as soon as possible, said Steve David, Ohio state director for All Voting is Local, a voting-rights group.
“This is a proven and reliable method that folks have used,” David said. “It’s proven to expand voter participation, especially among rural and disabled adults and older voters.”
But Ohioans have other options, too. David, White and Jen Miller, president of the Ohio League of Women Voters, all suggest that voters with concerns about voting by mail should consider early in-person voting options instead.
“I think any voter who is worried should consider voting early if Election Day doesn’t work for you. They just need to bring their ID,” Miller said.
