ASHLAND — The Ashland County Board of Elections rejected a portion of provisional ballots cast on Nov. 5. Most, however, were accepted and will count toward the final count.
Election results have yet to be certified. The board plans on certifying Ashland County’s results on Nov. 19.
Before then, however, the board of elections was tasked with verifying each one of the 636 provisional ballots cast on Election Day. Amanda Jones, the BOE’s director, said that was the most she’s seen since being on staff.
Provisional voting in Ohio was established in 2005. The law ensures that individuals whose eligibility to vote was uncertain could still cast a ballot that would be counted once their eligibility was verified.
There are several scenarios in which a voter may cast a provisional ballot. They can be used on Election Day if eligibility is in question, or if a voter has recently changed their address and hasn’t updated their registration.
Reasons for the Ashland County Board of Election’s rejections fell into one of three main categories. from voters attempting to vote without having registered in Ohio, not presenting valid identification and having already voted.
Not registered
The vast majority, 123, of rejected provisionals represented voters who were not registered in Ohio.
Voters had until Oct. 7 to register.
Invalid or no identification
There were 24 provisionals cast because they did not present valid ID at the polls on Nov. 5.
Jones said these voters had until Nov. 9 to return to the office to present valid identification. If they provided phone numbers, staff called to remind them, she said.
Ohio passed its voter ID requirement law in 2006 as part of an effort to address concerns over voter fraud and to align practices with other states.
In 2023, lawmakers passed a new voter ID law that tightened existing restrictions.
Already voted
Jones said five people submitted provisionals who had previously voted, either by absentee ballot or at the polls.
She said three of them had voted absentee and could have been elderly people from nursing homes who forgot they already voted.
Two of them had signed into polling pads at precincts on Nov. 5, and then filled out a provisional ballot.
“We tried to look through incident logs, we went back and recounted ballots,” Jones said. “Without more information it’s hard for us to determine whether they did, in fact, cast a ballot and then sign in on the poll pad.”
Though those provisionals were rejected, the five ballots case prior will be counted, said Shannon Johnson, the BOE’s deputy director.
No ballot
One voter submitted a provisional form without attaching a ballot.
“Nothing was signed on (the provisional envelope) but she signed in on the poll pad,” Jones said.
She said sometimes a voter will begin the process of voting provisionally and then discovers they don’t need to do so. That could have been the case here, Jones said.
The board voted to accept the other 483 provisionals because they were done so validly, according to state law.
They will be counted as part of the official count, which is scheduled to happen on Nov. 19. Elections officials have said the provisional votes won’t likely play a role in influencing close races in Ashland County.
BOE board member Andrew Keller commended the staff at the board of elections, as well as the poll workers and volunteers.
“They are the best of the best. Elections in Ashland County would not be as smooth and effective without all of you guys doing what you do day in and day out,” Keller said.
Ashland County’s turnout reached 76.3%, according to unofficial results. A large chunk of those votes, 39.6%, came in the form of early voting.