Section 3511.04 - Ballot sent by mail, facsimile machine or other means(A) If a board of elections receives an application for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots that does not contain all of the required informationor is not submitted on an appropriate form, the board promptly shall notify the applicant of the additional information required to be provided by the applicant to complete that application, direct the applicant to use an appropriate form, or both, as applicable.(B) Not later than the forty-sixth day before the day of each general or primary election, and at the earliest possible time before the day of a special election held on a day other than the day on which a general or primary election is held, the board of elections shall mail, send by facsimile machine, send by electronic mail, send through internet delivery if such delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, or otherwise send uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots then ready for use as provided for in section 3511.03 of the Revised Code and for which the board has received valid applications prior to that time. Thereafter, and until the close of business on the seventh day preceding the day of election, the board shall promptly, upon receipt of valid applications for them, mail, send by facsimile machine, send by electronic mail, send through internet delivery if such delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, or otherwise send to the proper persons all uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots then ready for use. If, after the seventieth day before the day of a general or primary election, any other question, issue, or candidacy is lawfully ordered submitted to the electors voting at the general or primary election, the board shall promptly provide a separate official issue, special election, or other election ballot for submitting the question, issue, or candidacy to those electors, and the board shall promptly mail, send by facsimile machine, send by electronic mail, send through internet delivery if such delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, or otherwise send each such separate ballot to each person to whom the board has previously mailed or sent other uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots.
No public office, and no public official or employee who is acting in an official capacity, shall prepay the return postage for any absent voter's ballots. In mailing uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots, the board shall use the fastest mail service available, but the board shall not mail them by certified mail.
Amended by 134th General Assembly, HB 458,§1, eff. 4/7/2023.Amended by 132nd General Assembly, HB 41,§1, eff. 3/20/2019.Amended by 130th General Assembly, SB 205,§1, eff. 6/1/2014.Amended by 129th General Assembly, SB 295, §1, eff. 8/15/2012.Amended by 129th General Assembly, HB 224, §1, eff. 10/27/2011.Amended by 129th General Assembly, HB 194, §1Made subject to referendum in the Nov. 6, 2012 election. The version of this section thus amended was repealed by 129th General Assembly, SB 295, §1, eff. 8/15/2012.Amended by 128th General Assembly, HB 48, §1, eff. 7/2/2010.Effective Date: 08-22-1995; 01-27-2006