What happens to my ballot?

by Tracey Mackay, president of the League of Women Voters of Hudson

This is what happens to your ballot in Medina County when you vote: 

Before Polls Open

All poll workers attend training prior to Election Day. Poll workers arrive by 5:30 a.m. on Election Day. They set up and test all equipment before polls open at 6:30 a.m.

Two important notes:

• Election equipment does not use public internet. It communicates only within its own secure devices. It is not accessible outside the system.  
• Everything, from the ballots to equipment, is managed and secured by two poll workers, one Republican and one Democrat.

At the polls

Voters present the poll worker with a valid ID. Valid ID includes an unexpired Ohio Driver’s license, Ohio ID card, Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV, U.S. Passport or card, U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card. All ID must be current (not expired), have a photograph of the voter and the voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears on the poll list. Digital IDs in Apple Wallet are not acceptable ID. 

The poll worker checks the voter’s ID with the poll list and has them identify their registered address. The registered address does not have to match the address on the Ohio ID. Voters can check their registration at ohiosos.gov. 

In-person voters will mark their ballots on a touchscreen of an ES&S ExpressVote (machine) to be tabulated.

Once voters have been checked in and voted, they cannot vote again anywhere. If a voter has requested an absentee ballot but then votes in person, that voter is given a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot is secured separately and counted only if the absentee ballot was not received. 

After polls close

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. Poll workers follow a very specific checklist to close the polls. They count, crosscheck and secure all the ballots and equipment. A copy of the Vote Total Report is posted at the outside entrance of the voting location to be viewed by the public. 

The ballots and required voting materials and supplies are transported to Medina County Board of Elections, or their assigned location, by representatives of both major political parties. The BOE continues escorting the ballots and equipment with two employees (always a Republican and a Democrat). After the deadline for mail-in ballots, the results are then audited. This is open to the public.

2024 General Election dates to know

Deadline to Register to Vote: Oct. 7 (Boards open until 9 p.m.).

Early In-Person Voting: Begins Oct. 8 and includes the two Saturdays and the two Sundays before Election Day.

Absentee Voting by Mail: Begins Oct. 8.

Election Day: Nov. 5; Polls open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. If not returned by mail, absentee ballots must be received by your board of elections by 7:30 p.m. ∞