In response to the increased concerns surrounding Coronavirus/Covid-19, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has announced efforts to ensure a safe, secure, accurate and healthy election on Tuesday.
The following are the latest updates on Ohio’s preparations:
- On Friday, Secretary LaRose joined the three other chief elections officers from the states holding elections on March 17. Together, they announced that the elections will go forward as planned, as health officials have deemed voting a safe activity for the public.
- Secretary LaRose announced polling locations in facilities requiring relocation have found alternative sites. There are 35 counties that have relocated polling locations. Counties are working with the former voting sites to ensure that residents of those facilities have an opportunity to vote absentee. Relocated voting sites and their new locations can be found here VoteOhio.gov/CoronaFacts. It is important to note that this list is for informational purposes only. For official polling location lists, contact the local county board of elections.
- As of late Friday afternoon, 1,551 Ohioans have signed up to become poll workers via the Secretary of State’s website just since Tuesday, after Governor DeWine issued a state of emergency. This number does not include individuals who signed up directly with their county board.
- GOJO, a company located in northeast Ohio that produces sanitizer products, has agreed to help provide supplies to Stark, Cuyahoga, Summit and Lake counties prior to election day. Additionally, the Secretary of State’s office will be reimbursing all county boards of elections for the purchase of sanitizer, disinfectants, disinfecting or antibacterial wipes, disposable gloves, rubbing alcohol or isopropyl, or any other sanitizing materials necessary for the facilitation of a safe and healthy environment on election day.
- In coordination with the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Education (ODE), and our office, ODE has distributed a notice that states “it is safe for schools to continue to serve as polling locations on election day.” You can read the notice at VoteOhio.gov/CoronaFacts.
For Ohioans voting by mail, ballots must be postmarked by Monday. However, the Secretary has ordered county boards to provide bipartisan teams to accept curbside absentee ballot drop-off at the county boards of elections on election day during voting hours. Early in-person voting continues on Monday from 8 AM until 2 PM.
For the latest updates, visit VoteOhio.gov/CoronaFacts.
