Absentee Ballot Law Change: No More 4-Day Grace Period

Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 293 (SB 293) in December 2025, eliminating Ohio's previous 4-day grace period for absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day. All absentee ballots from domestic voters must now be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day — no exceptions. Mail it early, or use a drop box.

Curbside Voting

Curbside voting is now available only to voters who are physically unable to enter their polling place. If this applies to you, call your county Board of Elections before Election Day to make arrangements. Note: elections officials cannot challenge or contest your disability claim.

Who Can Return Your Ballot For You

Ohio law restricts who can physically deliver your absentee ballot. Only the following may do so on your behalf:

Spouse, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of the whole or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece

If you have a disability, you may designate any person of your choosing to deliver your ballot — except your employer or a union officer.

Important: Whoever delivers your ballot must complete an attestation form (Form 12-P) in person at your county Board of Elections office. Without this step, your ballot may not be accepted.

Provisional Ballots — Know Your Rights

If there is any question about your eligibility at the polls, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot. Common reasons you might receive one:

• Your name doesn't appear on the poll list

• You're unable or decline to show ID

• Your address has changed

• Your registration shows you already requested an absentee ballot

If you vote provisionally: You have until the 4th day after Election Day to present evidence supporting your eligibility to your county Board of Elections.

What's Changing and What You Need to Know

The SAVE Act: A Threat to Ohio Voters

Here's something every Ohio voter should understand right now. On February 11, 2026, the U.S. House passed the "SAVE America Act" — a bill that would dramatically restrict who can register to vote. It passed the House by a slim margin (218–213) and now faces the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

What it would require: Proof of U.S. citizenship — like a passport or birth certificate — every time someone registers to vote or updates their registration. Online voter registration as we know it would effectively end. In-person verification at your county Board of Elections would be required.

Why it matters for Ohioans:

• Ohio's standard REAL ID cards do not indicate citizenship: meaning the ID you carry every day would no longer be sufficient to register.

• Roughly half of Americans don't have a valid passport.

• An estimated 69 million women in America have a last name that doesn't match their birth certificate, due to marriage — creating an extra barrier for many Ohio women to vote.

• Birth certificate copies in Ohio cost approximately $25 on average.

• Ohio has only one Board of Elections per county. For rural residents, that can mean a significant drive just to register.

Is it law yet? No. As of February 2026, it has not passed the Senate and has not been signed into law. But it is moving, and Ohio voters should be prepared.

What you can do right now:

• Register or update your registration immediately if you haven't already.

• Gather and store key documents: your birth certificate, passport (if you have one), and a copy of your Social Security card.

• Help a neighbor — share this page.