Mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day will not count in Ohio's Nov. 3 general election, a change that eliminates the four-day grace period voters relied on in past cycles.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 293 in December 2025, the Columbus Dispatch reported, requiring all absentee ballots to reach the Franklin County Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. The Franklin County Board of Elections website warns that ballots received after that deadline will not be counted. Military and overseas voters are exempt and keep a later deadline.
Nearly 7,800 absentee ballots arrived after Election Day statewide during the 2024 election, according to an Ohio Capital Journal review. Under the new rule, none of those would have counted. November will be the first general election without the grace period.
Franklin County Board of Elections Director Antone White said in April, when the board mailed voter information guides to nearly 499,000 Franklin County households ahead of the May primary, that the board was committed to giving every voter clear information about the new deadline. The board has one message for mail voters: send ballots back early.
Franklin County's single ballot drop box sits outside the board office at 1700 Morse Rd. in Columbus, under 24/7 video surveillance. Only the voter may place their own ballot in the box.
Early voting schedule
In-person early voting runs Tuesday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 1, at the board's sole location, 1700 Morse Rd. Ohio law limits each county to one early voting site.
Dates | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
Oct. 6–9 | Tue.–Fri. | 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
Oct. 12–16 | Mon.–Fri. | 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
Oct. 19–23 | Mon.–Fri. | 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
Oct. 24 | Saturday | 8 a.m.–4 p.m. |
Oct. 26 | Monday | 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. |
Oct. 27 | Tuesday | 7:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
Oct. 28–30 | Wed.–Fri. | 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. |
Oct. 31 | Saturday | 8 a.m.–4 p.m. |
Nov. 1 | Sunday | 1–5 p.m. |
Hours extend in the final week, with days running 12 hours or longer starting Oct. 26. Oct. 27 is also the last day to request an absentee ballot by mail; applications must reach the board by 8:30 p.m. There is no early voting on Monday, Nov. 2.
Eight million mail-in ballot applications have been sent to Ohio voters ahead of the election.
On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters cast ballots at their assigned precinct polling location. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Anyone still in line at closing gets to vote.
Key deadlines
Voter registration closes Monday, Oct. 5. The board stays open until 9 p.m. that day, and mailed registration forms must be postmarked by Oct. 5. Ohio requires an unexpired photo ID to vote in person, including during early voting. Accepted forms include an Ohio driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport or military ID. Voters who arrive without one receive a provisional ballot and have four days after Election Day to present ID at the board office.
The board's schedule is subject to change; check vote.franklincountyohio.gov or call 614-525-3100 for updates.
