Mahoning County election officials are waiting for Monday’s mail delivery to see how many more absentee ballots will be returned.

As of Saturday, the Ohio Secretary of State Reported that 13,400 of the absentee ballots requested by voters had not been returned to the Board of Elections.  The board was still waiting for 56% of the absentee ballots requested in Mahoning County.  The statewide average of unreturned ballots on Saturday was 36%.

In Trumbull County, all but 27% of the absentees have been returned. That number in Columbiana County is 34%.

Many absentee ballots were sent to voters late because of printing delays.  Mahoning County Elections Director Tom McCabe said he expected all of those ballots to be in the hands of voters by last Friday.

McCabe is urging them to send the ballots back as quickly as possible.

No matter where you live in Ohio, absentee ballots must be postmarked by Monday, November 4

Absentee ballots can also be placed in drop boxes outside your local election boards.

If not returned by mail, they must be returned to your board of elections or the drop box by 7:30 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, November 5.

McCabe said all ballots will be counted, but absentee voters can still vote early by coming into the board office on Oak Hill Avenue and having their absentee ballot canceled if they have any concerns.

There’s only one more week of early in-person voting.

EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING HOURS:

  • 7:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. through Saturday.
  • 8 am to 4 pm Saturday, Nov 2
  • 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3

The polls open on Tuesday, November 5 from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 a.m.