Franklin County voters still holding mail ballots need to get them to the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, or those ballots will not count.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose urged voters on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to skip the mailbox and use the 24/7 drop box at their county Board of Elections instead, Signal Ohio reported. Statewide, 235,496 requested mail ballots have not been returned.

"Of course, you are permitted to mail it, but you're taking a chance when you do that," LaRose said, according to Signal Ohio.

Where to drop off your ballot in Franklin County

The Franklin County Board of Elections drop box sits outside the office at 1700 Morse Rd. in Columbus. The board's website says the box is checked daily by a bipartisan team and kept under 24/7 video surveillance. Voters can also hand a completed ballot to an elections worker during office hours.

Franklin County Board of Elections Director Antone White said in an October press release that voters mailing ballots should return them early to make sure they arrive by the deadline. Separate return rules apply to military and overseas voters.

Early voting hours through Nov. 1

Early in-person voting at 1700 Morse Rd. continues through Sunday, Nov. 1:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Friday, Oct. 30: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Sunday, Nov. 1: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

There is no early voting on Monday, Nov. 2.

Voters who requested a mail ballot but want to vote in person can go to the board office during early voting hours. Bring the mail ballot if you still have it so officials can mark it spoiled, though you can vote without it, according to Signal Ohio.

Voters who requested a mail ballot but instead vote in person on Election Day must cast a provisional ballot. That type of ballot is not counted immediately while officials verify the voter did not vote twice.

Why the deadline is firm

A law Republicans passed eliminated the grace period that previously let ballots postmarked before Election Day arrive up to four days later, according to Signal Ohio. Ballots must now be in the hands of a county board by the time polls close.

Statewide, 726,754 voters requested mail ballots and 491,258 have been returned. Overall, 1.19 million Ohioans have voted early, including 699,203 in person, state election records cited by Signal Ohio show.

In most cases, it is illegal for someone else to return your ballot. Certain close family members may do so, but they cannot use the drop box and must hand it to an elections worker.

On Election Day, polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters must bring an unexpired photo ID such as an Ohio driver's license, state ID or U.S. passport. Voters can check their registration, view a sample ballot and find their polling location at vote.franklincountyohio.gov or by calling 614-525-3100.