Voter guide
SB293 and your mail ballot
SB293·Now law ·Effective March 19, 2026 ·Being challenged in court
A new Ohio law changed the deadline for mailed ballots and added new checks to the voter rolls. Here is what changed, what it means for you, and how to make sure your vote still counts.
The one change that matters most
The deadline moved from "postmarked" to "arrived"
| Before SB293 | Now, under SB293 |
|---|---|
| Postmarked by Election Day. A ballot postmarked on time still counted if it arrived in the days after. | Must arrive by the time polls close. The board of elections has to physically have your ballot by poll-closing on Election Day. A postmark is no longer enough. |
Military and overseas ballots are exempt from the new deadline.
The other change
Monthly voter-roll checks
SB293 also directs the state to run monthly checks of the voter rolls against motor-vehicle and federal databases to flag people who may not be citizens. Because those databases can be out of date, some eligible voters, including naturalized citizens, could be flagged by mistake and asked to vote a provisional ballot. If that happens to you, you can still vote and fix it (see below).
How to make sure your vote counts
Five steps
- Confirm you are registered. Check your status with your county board of elections before the registration deadline.
- Request your mail ballot early. The sooner you request it, the more time you have to return it.
- Return it early, and do not rely on the mail. Mail it at least a week before Election Day, or drop it off in person at your board of elections or an official drop box before polls close.
- Track it. Use your county's ballot tracker to confirm it was received. If it has not arrived close to the deadline, vote in person instead.
- If you are flagged or challenged, vote a provisional ballot and cure it. You have a short window after Election Day to show the required documents. Do not leave without voting.
Mail early or hand it in. Under SB293, "mailed on time" no longer protects your ballot. "Arrived on time" does.
Where to get help
Who to contact
- Your county board of elections — registration, ballot requests, drop-box locations, and ballot tracking.
- The Ohio Secretary of State voter tools — statewide registration check and deadlines.
- Ohio Ballot Project voter helpline — 1-800-OHIO-VOTE · ohioballotproject.com/help (demo contact)
Sources for SB293's provisions: BG Independent Media and WVXU. Deadlines and procedures change. Confirm the current rules with your county board of elections before you vote.