ZANESVILLE - The Muskingum County Board of Elections has its sights set on being ready for the Nov. 3 election.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a major disruption with the March primary as in-person voting was called off at the last moment and voting by mail was extended.
Ohio is observing three ways to vote for the general election: traditional in-person voting on election day, early voting at the local board of elections and by mail. While many people have questioned the validity of voting by mail and possible voter fraud, Ohio and Muskingum County have had voting by mail as an option for several years with no major problems.
Voting by mail figures to be a huge part of this election, and Muskingum County Board of Elections Director Tim Thompson is encouraging people to apply early, and his office will following the direction of Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
"We are moving forward as normal as possible," Thompson said. "The secretary of state will be sending out mail-in ballot applications, and we have already received several applications."
Ohio Democrats and voting rights advocates filed separate lawsuits last week, seeking to make it easier to vote in the November general election and to ensure all ballots are counted amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The state Democratic Party sued LaRose, demanding that he allow registered voters to request absentee ballots by e-mail. Currently, requests must be submitted by traditional mail, but Democrats say LaRose has the authority to change the policy without legislative action.
Additionally, the League of Women Voters of Ohio and A. Philip Randolph Institute filed a federal lawsuit against LaRose challenging the state’s system for matching voter signatures on absentee ballots and absentee ballot applications.
Muskingum County has 53,455 registered voters, according to the Board of Elections, and all registered voters in the state will receive mail-in ballot applications by mid-September.
Absentee ballot applications are also available on the board's website, by clicking on Absentee Ballot Links, and applications must be printed and mailed to the board office.
The first day absentee ballots will be mailed out is Tuesday, Oct. 6, and the board currently must receive absentee applications by noon Oct. 31 in order to mail out ballots.
Muskingum County had 37,708 ballots cast in the 2016 election with 13,787 of those being absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State's website.
Thompson also emphasized the voter registration deadline is Oct. 5. He said all name and address changes must be in by that date to vote in November.
"The earlier the better to send in applications, and people should completely fill them out," Thompson said. "If people make mistakes on the application that ties us up, and if people wait until the deadline to apply, it can be a tough turn around for us to get them a ballot on time."
The board received funds from the CARES Act, Thompson said, though he did not have the amount available. That money will help the board office and county precincts meet the sanitation needs under the COVID-19 guidelines.
"We have Plexiglas ordered and that will be installed in the office," Thompson said. "We continue to ask people to wear a mask and socially distance when inside our facility."
The county is also looking for poll workers. Thompson noted some people have given notice they will not be able to work this year.
"We have to make sure we have enough poll workers for each location," he said. "We have 68 precincts and need at least four poll workers at each. We're hoping for more so we can meet the sanitation needs."
bhannahs@gannett.com
740-450-6763
Twitter: @brandonhannahs
Voting Notices
• Registered voters should receive absentee voting applications by mid-September. Applications are also available at the Board of Election website, under Absentee Ballot Links.
• Voter Registration Deadline is Oct. 5.
• Absentee ballots will be mailed out, starting Oct. 6.
• Board of Election must give public notice of Nov. 3, 2020 General Election on Oct. 24.
• Absentee Ballot Applications must be received by the Board by noon Oct. 31.
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Board of Elections preparing for November election - Zanesville Times Recorder
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