Ross County Board of Elections: early voting in Chillicothe

- Advertisement -

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Early ballots in Ross County are being cast at one counter: the Ross County Board of Elections, 475 Western Ave., Suite D. The precinct where a voter will stand on Nov. 3 is closed for this part of the election.

The office also takes mail at P.O. Box 1663, Chillicothe, OH 45601. The phone is 740-775-2350. The email is ross@ohiosos.gov. Regular weekday hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early-voting hours run longer than that.

When the counter is open

In-person early voting opened Tuesday, Oct. 6, and ends Sunday, Nov. 1. The hours are set by the state, and Ross is on the same clock as every other county:

• Oct. 6–9, Oct. 12–16, and Oct. 19–23: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 26, and Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 28–30: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 1: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

There is no early voting on Monday, Nov. 2. That day is for the board to set up Election Day. Anyone still in line when the early-voting window closes can still cast a ballot.

Mail ballots and the drop box

A voter who would rather use the mail has until 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 to get an absentee application into this office. The finished ballot has to be back at 475 Western Ave. by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. A postmark on Nov. 3 does not count for a domestic ballot. Military and overseas ballots have a later receipt window.

The drop box at the board is for a voter’s own ballot. A spouse, parent, child, sibling, or other close relative bringing someone else’s ballot — or a person assisting a voter with a disability — should take it inside and sign the form the board keeps for that purpose. Do not leave another person’s ballot in the box.

What to carry in

What to carry inside is a current photo ID. Ohio accepts an Ohio driver’s license, an Ohio state ID card, an interim ID from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military ID, a U.S. military dependent card, an Ohio National Guard ID, or a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID. The card needs a photo, a name that substantially matches the poll book, and an expiration date that has not passed. An unexpired Ohio license with an old address is still good if the voter is listed at the current address.

A utility bill, a bank statement, a college ID, a Social Security card, and a license from another state will not get a voter a regular ballot. A voter who shows up without an accepted ID can cast a provisional ballot, then has four days after Election Day to bring a qualifying ID back to the board if that ballot is going to count. A voter with a religious objection to being photographed follows a different affidavit process at the board.

Registration for the Nov. 3 election closed at 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5. A voter who is not sure about a precinct, a registration, or a sample ballot can check voterlookup.ohiosos.gov before making the drive to Western Avenue.

Election Day is a different building

On Election Day the polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the assigned precinct, not at Suite D. A voter who already asked for a mail ballot and still has the unmarked ballot should bring it. A voter who already mailed a ballot should not try to vote a second time.

Voters who cannot get out of the car because of a disability can ask the board about curbside voting. Call 740-775-2350 before coming. The board’s page is boe.ohio.gov/ross.

Next in Ross County: Bainbridge Man With Multiple Outstanding Warrants Faces New Charges Following Ross County Arrest

- Advertisement -

Send a tip or correction to info@heritageheadlines.com, or use the contact page.

More Ross County news