With election day less than a week away and early voting already well underway, some students may already have their voting plan set.
For those still struggling to find a voting plan that works for them, or those who may be confused about the next steps regarding the voting process, here are some last second tips to ease your concerns.
Absentee voting – Ohio residents
According to an absentee ballot report from the city of Kent, there are still dozens of ballots that have not been returned to the Portage County Board of Elections, several of which belong to possible student addresses.
To correctly return an absentee ballot form, you must first stamp your envelope containing your ballot (stamps can be purchased at the Eastway mail service room). From there, you can either mail it to the Portage County Board of Elections, preferably by Oct. 31 at the latest, or drive to the Board’s address at 449 S. Meridian St. Ravenna, and drop the ballot off in a 24-hour drop box by 7:30 p.m. on election day.
If you made a request for an absentee ballot but still haven’t received one, contact the Board of Elections immediately at (330) 297-3511.
Provisional voting
If you’re registered to vote in Ohio, but are not using your Kent address, you would have to go to your off-campus home address to vote. If something comes up and you will not be able to go home to vote, you will vote in-person on election day using a provisional ballot.
On election day, head to the campus polling location you are assigned from your Kent address. If confused, check VOTE411.org to find your address-based polling location. Then, while voting, the staff will change your registration for voting purposes to Kent.
The ballot won’t be counted in the first round of ballots, but it will be counted eventually once your voting status has been checked in your home county to ensure you haven’t voted twice.
Takeout absentee voting
If you plan on voting in person as an Ohio registered voter in Kent but you don’t have any identification from Ohio nor a passport, you will not be able to vote at the polls on election day.
Instead, you should head to the Board of Elections and ask for a “takeout absentee ballot.” Don’t wait in the voting line; go directly into the main office.
The only ID needed is your social security number, and you can fill the ballot out in the parking lot and return it shortly after to the main office or drop box.
The latest to do this is Nov. 3, during regular business hours.
Resources
For any other questions or concerns regarding voting, please reach out to the following resources:
John Engoglia is a beat reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
