Get ready to cast your vote

TIFFIN — Early voting for May's primary election begins April 7. Here are reminders about how to vote, what identification is needed and early voting hours at the Seneca County Board of Elections, 71 S. Washington St., Tiffin. Ways to vote Absentee voting by mail involves an absentee application that the board of elections must receive in order for a person to receive a ballot by mail. The board cannot accept emails or phone calls with names and addresses asking for a ballot. There is now only one acceptable application form for absentee voting, due to a change in state law. People must submit form 11-A with a prescribed date of Feb. 7, 2023. The application must be received at the board of elections by mail, the drop box or brought into the office. Applications cannot be received via fax, scan or email. Primary absentee applications can be received until April 29 by 8:30 p.m. There is no permanent absentee list; an application must be requested for every election. Applications can be printed by visiting www.boe.ohio.goc/seneca and selecting "absentee application" and "print." Early voting at the board of elections office is another method of casting your vote. Early voting hours for the upcoming election are listed below. 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday, April 7 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 8–Friday, April 11, Monday, April 14–Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21–Friday, April 25 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 28 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 29 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 30–Friday, May 2 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 3 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, May 4 Election day voting at your polling place is the last method of voting. Election Day voting for the May election is 6:30–7:30 p.m. May 6. You can find your polling location by visiting www.boe.ohio.gov/seneca, selecting the "candidate & voter tools" option, selecting "polling place search" and entering the requested information. Valid IDs to vote Ohio driver's license State of Ohio ID card Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV U.S. passport U.S. passport card U.S. military ID card Ohio National Guard ID card U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card The ID presented must have the following: an expiration date that has not passed; a photograph of the voter; and the voter's name, which must substantially conform to the voter's name as it appears in the poll list or in the poll book.