Update your voter registration today
July 11, 2012
Election officials across Ohio and the League of Women Voters of Ohio are urging citizens: Don’t wait, register to vote or update your voter registration today!
“This year is a unique year for elections in Ohio,” said Llyn McCoy, President of the Ohio Association of Election Officials. “The Ohio Secretary of State will be sending each registered voter in the state an application to vote by mail (absentee). However, our county boards of elections must have voters’ current registration information in order to ensure voters receive their application.”
Voters need to have up-to-date information on file with their local board of elections prior to July 31, when all 88 counties will be submitting their voter rolls to the state to aid in the mailing. While a second mailing will be made closer to the election, voters can ensure that they receive a timely absentee ballot application by updating their registration prior to July 31, 2012.
The 2012 General Election takes place Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
“We want to urge every single voter to update their voter registration – and please don’t wait; do it now,” said Carrie Davis, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio.
In 2006, Ohio law changed to allow every registered voter to vote by mail; previously, voters needed an excuse to vote absentee. In addition to being convenient, voting by mail also reduces the risk of a voter casting a ballot in the wrong precinct and not having it counted. If a voter chooses to vote by mail, the correct precinct ballot is automatically mailed to them. Voters will only receive a vote-by-mail application if their voter registration is current.
“Having clean voter rolls is essential to running good elections, and we are asking for every voter to help us with this task,” said McCoy. “Having up-to-date voter information not only helps us at the board of elections, it makes it easier for eligible voters to cast their ballot and be confident that it will be counted.”
Exercise your right to vote!
Get your forms at the Grandview Library, available at the Circulation desk:
Learn about statewide issues and get voter information from:
Questions? Call Reference at 614-481-3776.
Image from The Grandview Library’s exclusive local archive photohio.org. “Standing in the back of the Voter Registration Bus, Jim Musselman encourages listeners to register to vote.” Columbus, Ohio. October 8, 1984. Photographer: Tom Wilcox, Columbus Citizen-Journal. (photohio on Facebook)