Biggest unknown: How many

Elections Board updates mail-in ballot preparations for November

The Lorain County Board of Elections has received more than 5,400 absentee ballot requests as preparations for the November general election continue.

In a presentation Aug. 12 to Lorain County commissioners, Paul Adams, director of the Lorain County Elections Board, said the biggest unknown is how many mail-in ballots his office will need to process.

At this time in the 2016 election cycle, Adams said there only were 849 ballot requests.

As of Aug. 12, 5,403 people have asked for ballots, he said.

“We’ll have to see how this plays out,” Adams said. “It very well could be that these are just people who are concerned and want to get theirs done early.

“Or, we could be looking at an incredibly high number of mail ballots,” he said.

“That’s where there’s a lot of unknown cost for us going forward,” Adams said.

The elections board also has fielded a number of calls from people who are concerned about either not receiving yet, or making their request through third-party forms, Adams said.

Staff members at the office have processed hundreds of these forms, he said.

As long as the form contains all of the required information, it is a valid request form, Adams said.

A number of requests from the third-party forms

have been missing the date of birth, he said.

Voters can drop off ballot requests at the drop box outside of the Lorain County Board of Elections, 1985 North Ridge Road in Sheffield Township, or can be submitted directly at the office.

Forms can be printed off online.

Absentee ballots will be mailed beginning on Oct. 6 and voters can check the status of their ballot online at the Board of Elections website.

The elections board is continuing its efforts in recruiting poll workers for Election Day and is encouraging anyone interested to call the office at 440-3265900.

Adams said the board has recruited 650 people out of the 1,200 needed and is continuing to reach out to individuals who have worked in past elections.

About 900 people are required to work the polling centers with an additional 100 people setting up polling locations the day prior.

The remaining 200 individuals serve in a stand-by capacity.

For in-person voting, Adams said staffers are implementing a number of safety measures to combat the novel coronavirus, including providing personal protection equipment for poll workers and hand sanitizer stations.

Most polling locations will be spaced apart and some will require barriers, he said.

For in-person voting, Adams said staffers are implementing a number of safety measures to combat the novel coronavirus, including providing personal protection equipment for poll workers and hand sanitizer stations.