3 Things You Need to Know:
Make Elections Great Again!Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose released a statement following the introduction of the federal Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act, which was modeled on Ohio’s election process: "Americans deserve confidence that their elections are secure and reflect the will of the people. Ohio has become a national leader in election integrity, but many states are falling short of the minimum standards." Read the full statement here.
Candidate Filing Deadline is February 4: Declarations of candidacy for partisan candidates for the 2026 election cycle are due by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4. Anyone seeking to appear on the ballot for the May 5 Ohio Primary Election must file by this deadline. More information can be found in the 2026 Candidate Requirement Guide found here.
New Deadline for Absentee Voting: If you plan to vote absentee in the May 5 Primary Election, all ballots other than military and overseas voters must be received by your county board of elections by the time the polls close on Election Day (May 5). Find out how to request an absentee ballot here. A complete voting schedule can be found here.
Verify Ohio Weekly Update:
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Question When can I request an absentee ballot for the 2026 Elections? Let's Verify! Today! Simply complete an Absentee Ballot Application form for each election you would like to vote absentee, and send it to your county board of elections. Once your application is received and your voter ID is verified, you'll be among the first to receive your ballot when early voting begins. Return it as soon as possible to ensure it is received by Election Day! Find out how to request an absentee ballot here. We created Verify Ohio as a trusted source for election information and business education. Follow us on your favorite social media channels @VerifyOhio. |
Updates From Around Ohio
West Central Regional Liaison Brian Metzbower recognized the opening of Generations Realty in Gahanna with a proclamation on behalf of Secretary LaRose.
Northwest Regional Liaison A.J. Nowaczyk presented a proclamation to The Sauder Village Heritage Inn in Archbold in celebration of being recognized with the 2025 Unique Lodging of Ohio Property of the Year award.
Eastern Regional Liaison Fiona Ruminski presented a proclamation from the Secretary of State's office to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for the new location of Kaufman Realty and Auctions.
Northeast Regional Liaison Dustin Russell recently met with Beth Gantz, Director of the Lorain County Community College Small Business Development Center (SBDC), to discuss how the Secretary of State’s Business Services Division can support SBDC programming and clients in the coming year, including collaboration on upcoming cybersecurity workshops.
In Case You Missed It:
Two New Programs to Address Human Trafficking in Montgomery County
Two new anti-human trafficking initiatives will soon be coming to Montgomery County. One of those initiatives is a pilot program that will embed caseworkers into the county’s children services agency, serving as subject matter experts and looking to improve human trafficking case identification and service coordination.