How to get an absentee ballot

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ohio (Jeff Hirsh) -- If people want to vote for or against legalizing marijuana in Ohio, or on any other issue or political race in the buckeye state, the deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 5. Election Day is November 3. It's possible to vote early by mail but the process is different for the 2015 election. Local 12s Jeff Hirsh is going to start this story by talking about Pete Rose. Pete rose, you say? What does Pete have to do with Election Day? Pay attention: 4,192; Pete Rose's hit for the all-time record. And guess what? 4,192 is how many applications have come in so far at the Hamilton County Board of Elections requesting early voting absentee ballots. Absentee ballot requests are actually up so far in 2015 to date compared to the last off-year election. People seem to like it, "Back in 2006 the law changed so you didn't need an excuse to vote absentee. Anybody can vote absentee," said Hamilton County BOE director, Sherry Poland. People like Gail Jordan who came to the Board of Elections to file a change of address, I will probably get the absentee ballot, simply because I can stew over it. I can do my research, look at the names and study the issues word for word, and I'm not so rushed as I am when I go to the polls. In the bigger elections, the presidential or gubernatorial, the secretary of state's office sends out early absentee ballot requests to every voter in Ohio. But that is not happening this year. It does not happen in the off-year elections because the legislature does not give the secretary of state the money and the secretary has not asked for it. Specific issues, like marijuana legalization this time, can spur early voting. In 2011, 17 percent of the total turnout was early. Repeal of Senate Bill five was on the ballot. In the 2012 presidential race, 27 percent of the votes were cast before Election Day. This year, Gail Jordan will do the same, It's just important to me. A lot of people died for me to have the right to vote. They gave their lives. I vote every time there's a primary or a general election. I've never missed an election. I've never missed one." So if people want an absentee ballot they can download an application from the Board of Elections website in their county or call that board and request one. People can also pick up an application at a public library branch. After people apply, they send them the actual ballot, and people mail it back in. They can also vote early in-person at their local board of elections starting Tuesday, Oct. 6. CLICK HERE for a link for an absentee voter application. Follow Jeff Hirsh on Twitter @local12jeff and LIKE him on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @Local12 and LIKE us on Facebook for updates!