To Apply for an Absentee Ballot:
Fill out the downloadable form and mail it to:
Summit County Board of Elections
470 Grant Street
Akron, Ohio 44311
If you can not download the form please write your information on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.
You must include the following information:
- Name and voting residence address
- Your birth date
- A form of Identification. This may include Driver's License No., last four digits of your SSN, a copy of current and valid photo identification, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address, other than a notice of election or notice of voter registration. (Please provide one form of identification)
- Election in which you wish to vote
- If the election is a primary declare your party affilitation or ask for an issues only ballot
- The mailing address where the ballot should be sent
- A statement attesting that you are a qualified elector
- Your original signature is required
Please note the following general absentee guidelines:
- Under Ohio law, absentee voting begins thirty five days prior to an election.
- Voters should request an absentee ballot as early as possible in order to meet
the return deadline.
- Mail-in Applications must be received by noon on the Saturday prior to the election you wish to vote in.
- We can not accept faxed absentee requests. They must be mailed.
- The last day for Absentee Voting is the Monday before the close of business, prior to Election Day.
- Do not drop your Absentee Ballots off at your polling location. They will not be counted.
- All ballots must be received by 7:30pm at the Summit County Board of Elections on Election Day.
Please note the following guidelines for Medical Emergencies:
The absentee ballot request deadline in the case of medical emergencies is 3 p.m. on election day. To be eligible under this provision, you must be confined in a hospital because of a medical emergency. A close relative may deliver and return your ballot if you so request and state the relative’s name and relationship on the application, or representatives of the board of elections can deliver the ballot.
Guidelines for Uniformed Service Members, Their Families & Citizens Living Outside the U.S.:
Absentee Exceptions:
Ballots mailed by out-of-country civilians will be counted if received by the board up to 20 days after a presidential primary, and 10 days after any other election, if post-marked or signed by election day.
Out-of-country armed service absentee ballots must be signed on or before close of polls and received by the board no later than 20 days after a presidential primary, and 10 days after any other election.