OHIO IS HOLDING ITS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ON MAY 3--MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD!
What elections are there in Ohio? What am I voting for?
Ohio will hold a Democratic Primary on May 3 for U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senate as well as state-wide offices like Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and the State Supreme court, as well as your State Representatives and State Senators. The winners of these Democratic primary races will go up against the Republicans in the November 8, 2022 General Election.
All Ohio overseas voters can vote in these crucial races!
The US Senate is open as Republican Rob Portman is retiring. We have a rare and excellent opportunity to gain a new Democratic seat and increase the Democratic majority.
And state elections are hugely important! State government is responsible for voting and state policies regarding climate change, education, health insurance, net neutrality, student loans, and more affect us no matter where we go around the world.
UPDATE: New Ballot Deadlines!
On March 18, the US Department of Justice issued a waiver to Ohio to change the deadlines for sending out overseas ballots as well as moving the ballot return deadlines. But deadlines for requesting your ballot remain the same! (Read the full waiver here)
Ballots are coming late and you’ll have some extra time to get your ballot back to Ohio, but please don’t delay! When you get your ballot, be sure to fill it out and return it right away.
Important new dates:
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Mark your calendar! Ohio must send out your blank ballot by April 5.
If you requested your ballot by email, be sure to check your spam folder.
And if you requested your ballot be sent to you by mail, Ohio must send it by express delivery.
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You must return your voted ballot by mail, but Ohio must pay for expedited mail delivery.
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You have only a few more hours to get your ballot in the mail. Your ballot must be postmarked by May 3, at 7:30pm Ohio time (close of polls).
- And there’s more time for your ballot to get to Ohio. Ballots must be received in Ohio by May 23, which is 10 days after the original deadline.
1) Register to Vote and Request Your Ballot Today
It's easy to request your ballot. And your ballot request covers all elections in 2022, so send the form in now and ensure your ballot for the May 3rd Primary and for the November 8th General election.
Go to www.votefromabroad.org and follow the prompts to fill out the form to request your ballot, the Federal Post Card Application form (FPCA). (If needed, it will also serve as a voter registration.) To ensure you receive your ballot in time, please check the box on the FPCA to have your blank ballot sent to you by “Email/Online” or “Fax”.
To vote in Ohio’s Democratic Primary, you must also specify “Democratic” as your political party.
You can send in your FPCA to your local election office in Ohio by email (recommended) or fax or mail.
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If you are registered to vote, you MUST still send in an FPCA to request your ballot in 2022 to vote in this election and it must be received by April 30, 2022, at 12:00pm Ohio time.
- If you are NOT registered to vote, your FPCA must be received by April 4, 2022.
2) When You Get Your Ballot, Fill It Out and Mail It Back Right Away
Ballots for the Primary started going out on April 5, 2022. If you asked for your ballot by email, be sure to check your spam folder and any secondary inboxes.
When you get your ballot, fill it out and mail it back away. It must be postmarked no later than May 3, 2022 at 7:30pm Ohio time AND it also must be received in Ohio by May 23, 2022.
*Here's a video from the Hamilton County Election office demonstrating how to prepare your ballot for mailing: https://youtu.be/f4YBmlByv7w
3) If You Don't Have Your Ballot Yet, Mail in a Backup Ballot
If you haven't received your ballot yet, we recommend you mail in a Backup Ballot (the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot, or FWAB). It’s only for overseas voters and protects your right to vote in case your official ballot doesn't arrive in time. For detailed information how to use the Backup Ballot, please go to www.votefromabroad.org/fwab
When you use the Backup Ballot for the Ohio Primary, the website will indicate the candidates for US Senate and the candidates for US House in your Congressional District.
And you may use the Backup Ballot for state elections as well. There are several state offices on the ballot including:
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, 3 seats on the Ohio State Supreme court, as well as your State Representatives and State Senators
You can use this website to find the candidates in your jurisdiction: https://ballotpedia.org/Sample_Ballot_Lookup
Then write in the office and your choice in the "Write in Candidates" block of the Backup Ballot. Please remember, this is a Primary election, so you must write in the candidate's name, not just the political party:
4) Confirm That Your Ballot Was Accepted and Counted
After you send in your ballot, make sure your vote is counted!
Check your ballot status online using this website: https://usoav.ohiosos.gov/UOCAVA_vr__Login.aspx
Or, email or call your local election office. You can find the contact information at: www.votefromabroad.org/states/oh; scroll down to "Find Your Election Office"
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