Putnam County Board of Elections
Putnam County Board of Elections |
|
||
Director - Ginger Price |
|||
336 E Main Street, Ottawa, Ohio 45875 * Fax: 419-523-3417Phone: 419-523-3343 * email the board of elections |
|||
 | You must provide your birthdate: month 00/ day 00/ year00 and ONEof the following: |
| Your Ohio Driver's License number |
| Your last 4 digits of your Social Security number |
| Copy of a current and valid photo identification, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address. |
You are qualified to
vote if:
• You are a citizen of the United States.
• You are at least 18 years old on the day of the election at which you seek to vote.
• You are not incarcerated (in prison) for a felony conviction under the laws of this state, another state, or the united States.
• You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court
• You have not been permanently disfranchised for violations of the election laws. You are eligible to vote in elections conducted in your voting precinct more than 30 consecutive days after you are properly registered to vote in this state.
• You have been a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election.
• You have been registered to vote at least
30 days before the election.
• By law your residence is the place to which, whenever you are absent, you have the intent to return. Leaving for temporary purposes, such as military service or school attendance, does not result in a change of residence for voting purposes, unless you register in the area where you are currently residing.
Can a student vote from his/her school address?
• Yes, if the student regards that place as his/her residence and registers to vote. Otherwise, the student must vote in his/her home community if registered.
Does everyone have to be registered?
• Yes, except for members of the armed forces serving on active duty. Their spouses and dependents are also exempt if they left Ohio to be near the service member.
How can I register?
• At any County Board of Elections or the Secretary of State's Office.
• At any Public High School or Vocational School.
• At the office of any Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
• At offices of designated agencies which provide public assistance or disability programs.
• Public Libraries.
• County Treasurer's Office.
• By mail. You may request a registration form from a Board of Elections or the Secretary of State's Office by mail, telephone, in person or by having another person obtain it for you. After completing the form, return it to the Board of Elections or Secretary of State's Office by mail.
Mailed registration forms sent to a county board of elections or the Secretary of State's Office must be postmarked 30 days before an election to be valid for the election.
Registration forms not mailed in must be received by a Board of Elections, the Secretary of State's Office, office of any Bureau of Motor Vehicles or designated agencies 30 days before an election to be valid for the election. You will be notified by mail, from the Board of Elections, of your new polling place. Please allow four weeks for the notification.
Do I declare my politics when I register?
• No. Under Ohio law, your party affiliation is determined by the ballot you vote in a primary election.
What if I change my address or name?
If you are now registered and move within the state or same county or change your name, you must report the change to the board of elections. You may report the change:
• By mail on a registration form.
• At any County Board of Elections or the Secretary of State's Office.
• At any Public High School or Vocational School.
• At the office of any Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
• At offices of designated agencies which provide public assistance or disability programs.
• At any Public Library.
• At the County Treasurer's Office.
• By completing a notice of change in voting status and filing it with the court when you apply for a marriage license or when your name is changed by court order.
Mailed forms sent to a county board of elections or the Secretary of State's Office must be postmarked 30 days before an election to be valid for the election.
Forms not mailed in must be received by the board of elections, the Secretary of State's Office, office of any Bureau of Motor Vehicles or designated agencies 30 days before an election to be valid for that election.
Exceptions: If you change your name, move within your precinct or move from one precinct to another in Putnam County, you may report the change and vote by appearing at the Board of Elections during the absentee voting period; or on election day you may go to the polling place for the precinct in which you reside, or the Board of Elections.
If you move from one county to another in the state, you may report the change and vote at the Board of Elections in the county in which you now reside during the absentee voting period, or on election day at the Board of Elections.
If you have questions regarding:
• Where to vote
• Your ward and precinct
• Your currently recorded political party affiliation
Please call the Board of Elections - 523-3343
When does Registration Close?
• For March 4, 2008 Primary Election - February 4, 2008 last day to register.
• For special elections (including municipal
elections) - 30 days before Election Day *The dates that are possible for
a Special Election are the first Tuesday after the first Monday the months
of February and August.
• For November 4, 2008 General Election - October 6, 2008 last day to register.
Absentee Voting
You may vote by absentee ballot if:
• You will be absent from the county on election
day the State of Ohio has past that it is not necessary for you to have
an excuse anymore. Although there are requirements that you must
meet by filling out the new application for an absentee ballot.
| You must provide your birthdate: month 00/ day 00/ year00 and ONEof the following: |
| Your Ohio Driver's License number |
| Your last 4 digits of your Social Security number |
| Copy of a current and valid photo identification, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address. |
Note: The absentee ballot request deadline is 3 p.m. on election day in the case of medical emergencies. To be eligible under this provision, you must be confined in a hospital because of a medical emergency. A close relative may deliver and return your ballot if you so request. State the relative's name and relationship on the application. Representatives of the board of elections can be requested to deliver the ballot.
How do I apply?
Write or come to the Board of Elections and request an absentee ballot, giving the following information. This FORM is available for download (click on FORM) or from the Board of Elections.
• Your name and voting residence.
| You must provide your birthdate: month 00/ day 00/ year00 and ONEof the following: |
| Your Ohio Driver's License number |
| Your last 4 digits of your Social Security number |
| Copy of a current and valid photo identification, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address. |
• The election for which you are requesting a ballot.
• Your party choice if the election is a primary or that you want to vote an issues-only ballot.
• The mailing address to which you want your ballot sent.
• Your signature.
Can application be made in person?
• Yes.
What is the deadline for applying for absentee ballots?
Your written request for ballots to be mailed must be received at the Board by:
• 12 noon of March 1, 2008 for the March 4, 2008 Primary Election.
• 12 noon of the third day before a Special Election.
• 3 p.m. on Election Day in the case of medical emergencies (see note above).
• 12 noon of November 1, 2008 for the November 4, 2008 General Election.
• Requests to vote absentee ballots in person at the Board of Elections office must be made by 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election.
All voted absentee ballots must be received at the BOARD OFFICE by 7:30 p.m. on election day in order to be counted. Voters should request an absentee ballot as early as possible in order to meet the return deadline.
Exception: Ballots mailed out of the country will be counted if post-marked by election day and received by the board no later than 10 days after Election Day or for a Presidential Primary Election no later than 20 days after the election.
• • • • • ABSENTEE VOTING - 523-3343 • • • •
Armed Service Absentee Voting
Who may vote armed service absentee ballots?
If you are serving in the U.S. armed forces on active duty outside the state, you, your spouse and dependents may vote by an armed service absentee ballot if you otherwise meet the requirements for voting in Ohio. Your spouse and dependents may vote by an armed service absentee ballot only if they left Ohio to be with you.
What is the voting residence of a service member?
The place where you resided when you first entered the service, unless you later establish a voting residence elsewhere in Ohio.
Must armed service absentee voters register?
• No.
How do I apply for armed service absentee ballots?
You, your spouse or a close relative may request the board of elections to mail a ballot to you. Application may be made in person or by mail. An Ohio application form or a federal post card application may be used for convenience, but neither is required; however, all mail requests must include the following information:
• Your name and voting residence.
| You must provide your birthdate: month 00/ day 00/ year00 and ONEof the following: |
| Your Ohio Driver's License number |
| Your last 4 digits of your Social Security number |
| Copy of a current and valid photo identification, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address. |
• A statement that you are serving in the U.S. armed forces on active duty or are the spouse or dependent of a service member.
• The election for which a ballot is requested.
• Your party choice if the election is a primary or that you want to vote an issues-only ballot.
• The mailing address to which you want your ballot sent.
• Signature of person requesting ballot.
Can I apply in person?
• Yes.
What is the deadline for applying?
Requests to have ballots mailed must be received at the Board by:
• 12 noon of March 1, 2008 for the March 4, 2008 Primary/Special Election.
• 12 noon of the third day before a Special Election.
• 12 noon of November 1, 2008 for the November 4, 2008 General Election.
• Requests to vote Armed Services ballots in person at the Board of Elections Office must be made by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Overseas Absentee Ballots must be postmarked by 7:30 p.m. on the date of the election and received by the Board of Elections no later than 10 days after the election, or for a Presidential Primary Election, no later than 20 days after the election.
• ARMED SERVICE VOTING INFORMATION •
Voting Procedures
• Each voter must cast his/her ballot at the polling place designated to serve the precinct in which he/she resides. The Board of Elections will notify you - please save the notice.
Can a voter ever receive assistance in voting?
• Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer, or officer or agent of the voter's union, or a candidate whose name appears on the ballot. If no such person is at hand, two election officials of opposite political parties may enter the voting booth to assist. These officials may not disclose any information about how you voted.
Primaries
What is the difference between a Primary and a General Election?
• In a Primary Election the members of each party nominate candidates for the General Election.
• In a General Election all voters elect officials from the party nominees and independent candidates.
How do I establish which party's ballot I am entitled to vote?
• If you are a new voter, you may vote the primary ballot of any political party. You are declaring yourself a member of the party whose ballot you request, and may not vote in the primary of another party unless you change your affiliation and sign a statement to that effect.
May I vote on issues in a primary without declaring my politics?
• Yes. If you are qualified to vote on issues at a primary election, you may vote on such issues without voting for the candidates of a political party. Issues are on a separate non-partisan ballot.
REMEMBER TO VOTE ELECTION DAY, IT'S YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT!!!