Secretary of State directs local Board of Elections to cure ballot applications by contacting voter electronically

On July 6, 2020, Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued a directive regarding 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for county boards of elections. This directive also provides guidance on election administration preparedness for the November 3, 2020, Presidential General Election. 

Specifically relating to the November election, Secretary of State LaRose directed county boards of elections to promptly notify a voter if the board of election receives an absentee ballot application that does not contain all the required information. “The Boards must utilize telephone numbers and email addresses to complete this process as quickly as possible,” according to the directive. If electronic communication is not possible, the boards must attempt to correct the missing information by mail. In addition, if the boards receive a deficient ID envelope for a ballot, they must utilize telephone numbers and email addresses, as well as send the SOS Form 11-S. In the past, local board of elections would only mail the form during the cure period rather than attempt to electronically contact a voter.