Board of Elections briefs commissioners on precinct changes, early voting and absentee deadlines

Nicole Micley of the Medina County Board of Elections told commissioners the county has 131,265 registered voters and outlined several precinct and polling-location changes implemented over the summer.

Precinct changes: The county added three new precincts (122 — Brunswick City 2F; 123 — Brunswick Hills Township G; 124 — Hinkley Township F) to comply with Ohio Revised Code requirements limiting precinct size. Voters affected by precinct or polling-location changes were sent postcards with their updated voting location.

Polling-location closures and reassignments: Several polling locations were closed and reassigned; examples given during the briefing include voters redirected from Brunswick Hills Fire Station to Saint Ambrose, Gloria Glenn's Park Village Community Building to Chippewa Lake Town Hall, the Human Services Building to Medina Fire Station 1, and Grace Baptist Church to Applewood School. Micley said voters can confirm assignments on the Board of Elections website or by phone.

Deadlines and hours: The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail was the evening of the meeting day; the Board of Elections offered six more days of early voting at the office at 3800 Stonegate Drive with extended weekday and weekend hours detailed at the meeting. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 3; ballots returned in person must be in the drop box or at the office by 7:30 p.m. on election night. Polls on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, were scheduled to be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Operational notes: Micley noted the office has worked with community partners (including using the Achievement Center as a polling place) and has staff who rely on transit during early voting, which illustrated cross-departmental coordination.

Postal issues: The Board of Elections reported a limited number of ballots that appeared delayed in the mail on Oct. 14; voters who had requested absentee ballots but not received them were advised to contact the Board immediately to request reissuance.