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UpdateOhioTuesday, November 3, 2026

Nearly 20,000 mail ballots not returned in central Ohio by deadline

Reporting by
Ideastream Public Media (WKSU)
“Nearly 300,000 central Ohioans voted early, but nearly 20K mail-in ballots haven't been returned”, Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Read the full story
What happened

Early voting in central Ohio's seven counties produced nearly 300,000 in-person and mail-in ballots. More than 19,000 requested mail-in ballots had not been returned after early voting concluded Sunday. Franklin County accounts for more than 12,000 of those outstanding ballots.1

More than 90,000 people voted early in-person in Franklin County, compared with more than 48,000 in 2022.1

nearly 300,000
in-person and mail-in ballots cast early in seven central Ohio counties1
more than 19,000
requested mail-in ballots not yet returned after early voting ended1
more than 12,000
outstanding ballots in Franklin County1
What it means in Ohio

What voters with outstanding ballots must do

Outstanding ballots must be returned to county boards of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.1 Absentee ballots must be received by the board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.2

Key dates in Ohio

Election Day in -1 days
  1. Mon, Oct 5 · passed
    Registration deadline
  2. Tue, Oct 6 · passed
    Early voting begins
  3. Tue, Oct 27 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  4. Sun, Nov 1 · passed
    Early voting ends
  5. Tue, Nov 3 · passed
    Election Day; Mail ballots must arrive

Every date in Ohio, and who certifies the election

More on this story
Ohio · Nov 4
Ohio voters cast ballots Tuesday with updated mail ballot deadline
Reporting by WTAP
Ohio · Nov 3
Nearly 2 million Ohioans voted early, a record
Reporting by 13abc (WTVG)
The answers behind this
Mail and early votingVoting in Ohio, 2026When does a mail ballot have to arrive to count?Who certifies the election in Ohio, and by when?

Explore this issue

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Sources

  1. Ideastream Public Media (WKSU), https://ideastream.org/2026-11-02/nearly-300-000-central-ohioans-voted-early-but-nearly-20k-mail-in-ballots-havent-been-returned · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
  2. Vote.org, Ohio Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/ohio/

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