Ohio’s March Primary suspended; Moved to June 2…so far

March 23, 2020

ODCCA President Janet Carson has issued a press release, letter and statement outlining the Association’s concerns of the financial impact to County Boards of Elections throughout Ohio, ballot access to all Ohioans, and advocacy for an all-mail model in order to expedite the results and certification of the 2020 Primary Election. “We are asking the Legislature to execute their Constitutional duty and set the terms of this Election,” Carson commented.

HISTORY: ACTIONS TAKEN 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Director of Health Dr. Amy Action ordered the closing of all Ohio polling locations which effectively *SUSPENDED* the Primary Election scheduled on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Meanwhile, GOP State Representative Jason Stephens (D-93) and Corey Speweik, a GOP Wood County judicial candidate, filed lawsuits to HALT the Primary Election and to have only those mailed-in ballots cast to be counted and to call the winners of all races based on those mailed-in ballots. Thus, the Ohio Democratic Party filed a lawsuit to preserve the Primary Election and ensure all Ohioans’ have the opportunity to vote. Currently, the Ohio Supreme Court is reviewing the lawsuits while the Ohio Legislature will be in session this week to legally set a new Primary Election date.

The following are updates from Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper:

The following is a statement from Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes:

The following is a news release from ODCCA President Janet Carson and communication to the Ohio Legislature:


**SUSPENDED** Primary Election Day
Tuesday, March 17, 2020  

Secretary of State – Directive 2020-6

**NEW** PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
(NOTE: This date may change pending
Ohio Legislature action or
Ohio Supreme Court decision.)

Deadline for Voter Registration for Primary Election:
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 remains the voter registration deadline

Early/Absentee Voting 

There will be NO In-person Early/Absentee Voting

Absentee/Early Ballot

If you have already voted early or voted by mail and returned your
ballot back to your local county board of elections,
your ballot will count for the
**new** Primary Election – Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

To vote Absentee/Early for the
**new** Primary Election – Tuesday, June 2, 2020,
you MUST request an Absentee/Early Ballot
by completing the Absentee Ballot Application.
Your application must be mailed to your local county board of elections.
To print out the application, please visit here.
You may call your local county board of elections to have
an application mailed to you and additional details.

If you still have your ballot that was mailed to you and
after Tuesday, March 17, 2020,
Absentee/Early Ballots MUST be mailed, postmarked and
returned by U.S. Postal Service only to your
local county board of elections
no later than Monday, June 1, 2020, 
and received by your local county board of elections
no later than Friday, June 12, 2020.
Please call your local county board of elections for additional details.
NOTE: It is recommended that you take your ballot envelope
into the Post Office to have the clerk manually postmark the envelope.
If the envelope is not properly postmarked or
have the correct amount of postage on the envelope,
your ballot will not be counted.

Did you request, vote and mail your Absentee/Early Ballot back
to your local county board of elections?
Check your ballot status with your local county board of elections.
REMEMBER:
You must mail your ballot back to your local county board of elections.
See mailing instructions above.

In-Person Voting on
Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020
(NOTE: This date may change pending Ohio Legislature action
or Ohio Supreme Court decision)

In-person voting will take place on Primary Election Day only
at voters polling locations within your county.
Polls will open at 6:30am and close at 7:30pm.
NOTE: Please confirm your voting site by visiting:
I WILL VOTE
or contact your local county board of elections.

Are you interested in being a Precinct Election Official?
Please visit here for more information
or call your local county board of elections.

With the above process issued by the Secretary of State’s Directive 2020-6, legal action is continuing. For more information, please read the articles below.

Articles: