In Ohio, tabulation is the process of counting votes by election officials on Election Day, and includes all votes cast at polling places and by absentee ballot received by the close of polls.
Ballots are counted electronically in Ohio. Each county may select the electronic voting system to use in its elections. “Voting Systems” at 348. Voting machines, marking devices, and automatic tabulating equipment may be selected by the Board of Elections in the county, the County Commissioners upon recommendation by the Board of Elections, or by the county’s voters via a ballot question. Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3506.02; “Voting Systems” at 348. Each county is responsible for contracting for the procurement and maintenance of its voting systems. “Voting Systems” at 348. If the Board of Elections uses direct recording electronic voting (DRE) machines, the Board of Elections must maintain a minimum quantity of the machines as calculated by the Secretary of State. “Voting Systems” at 349.
The bipartisan Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners examines and approves voting equipment for use in the state with legal and technical support from the office of the Secretary of State. *Voting Equipment;* “Voting Systems” at 347.
After polls close on Election Day, Precinct Election Officials count the number of electors who voted, count the number of different types of ballots — unused, spoiled, and voted — and enter information in the poll books. Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3505.26. The Precinct Election Officials then proceed to count and tally the votes. Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3505.26. The Precinct Election Officials also create a summary statement with the results and send the statement to the Board of Elections. Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3505.30.
In addition, at the close of polls, the Precinct Election Officials securely pack up ballots and supplies for immediate return to the Board of Elections. “Canvassing” at 297. A bipartisan team of Precinct Election Officials transports all ballots and election supplies to the Board of Elections. “Canvassing” at 297.
Immediately upon receipt of the summary statement from the precincts on election night, the Board of Elections prepares an unofficial canvass, during which it continuously counts the ballots until complete. Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3505.30; “Canvassing” at 298. This process must take place in the presence of the Board of Elections members and any appointed observers. “Canvassing” at 298. The unofficial canvass must include all eligible Election Day in-person ballots and absentee ballots received before the close of polls. “Canvassing” at 298. The unofficial canvass does not include provisional ballots, absentee ballots rejected due to statutory deficiency, or absentee ballots that were timely mailed but not received by the close of polls. “Canvassing” at 298.
The unofficial canvass begins on election night and finishes before noon on the day following the election. Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3505.30. Once the unofficial canvass is complete, the Board of Elections transmits the results to the Secretary of State or to the Board of Elections of the most populous county of the district. Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3505.30.
NOTE: For the November 5 General Election, election night reporting must include summary results of all candidates that appear on the ballot. “Directive 2024-22” at 4. Each Board of Elections must log onto the Secretary of State’s County Submission System (CSS) no later than 7:45 p.m. on November 5. “Directive 2024-22” at 4. Vote totals for absentee ballots must be uploaded by 8:00 p.m. “Directive 2024-22” at 4. After the first upload of results, the Boards of Elections must continue to upload reports according to assigned time increments (either by the half-hour or hour, depending on the county). “Directive 2024-22” at 4. If results are delayed, the county must notify the Secretary of State. “Directive 2024-22” at 4. After all precincts have been reported, Boards of Elections must enter final tallies into the CSS. “Directive 2024-22” at 4.
During the unofficial canvass, election officials segregate ballots containing write-in votes. “Canvassing” at 300*.* A designated team of election officials, not more than half of whom are of the same political party, inspects and tabulates the write-in votes. “Canvassing” at 300*.* If the voter has written in an eligible write-in candidate’s first and last names, the Board of Elections must count the vote as valid following the Secretary of State’s instructions for a manual hand count. “Canvassing” at 301. **The voter must have included sufficient information for election officials to determine the voter’s intent in order for the vote to be counted. “Canvassing” at 301.
In Ohio, any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot. “Absentee Voting” at 198*; Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3509.02.* To cast an absentee ballot, a voter must submit an application by mail to the county’s Board of Elections or appear in person at the Board of Elections’ office or other designated early in-person absentee voting site. “Absentee Voting” at 198; Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3509.03. A voter must submit an application for an absentee ballot no sooner than January 1 of an election year or 90 days before the election, whichever is earlier, and no later than the close of business on the seventh day before Election Day. “Absentee Voting” at 201*.* Boards of Elections may begin mailing absentee ballots to voters who have requested them on the day after voter registration closes and may continue to mail ballots until the close of business on the seventh day before Election Day. “Absentee Voting” at 201.
A voter may return an absentee ballot to the Board of Elections through the mail or by in-person delivery. “Absentee Voting” at 201; Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3509.05. If the voter returns the ballot by mail, the ballot must be postmarked no later than the day before Election Day, and the ballot must be received by the Board of Elections no later than the fourth day after Election Day. “Absentee Voting” at 202*.* If the voter chooses to return the ballot in person, the voter or a family member [1] may deliver the ballot to the Board of Elections office by the close of polls on Election Day. “Absentee Voting” at 202; Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3509.05(C)(1). Ballots may not be returned to precinct polling locations. “Absentee Voting” at 202*.* The Board of Elections may provide one ballot drop box outside of its office (on the office’s property) to receive voted absentee ballots. “Absentee Voting” at 202; Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 3509.05(C)(3).