Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted announced Aug. 9 that there is a new way for registered voters to change their voting address: the Internet.
If the state had done this in 2008, about 130,000 provisional ballots could have been cast as regular ballots, according to Husted. Provisional ballots are ballots used to record a vote when there are questions surrounding a voter’s eligibility. Provisional ballots are sometimes discounted if a person fails to prove his/her eligibility to vote.
“This added convenience for voters is also a powerful tool against voter fraud as current and accurate voter rolls leave less room for abuse,” Husted said in a press release.
Husted said the new system will also save tax dollars.
For each registration done online instead of by mail or in-person, the state saves money.
The website requires four identification keys: a last name, an Ohio driver’s license number, the last four digits of a Social Security number and a date of birth. Registered voters that supply this information will be able to submit an application for an address change.
Applications will be reviewed by county election boards. If the address change is accepted, the election board will send an acceptance letter by mail to the new address.
The state is working heavily with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to share voter data. At this time, more than 6 million of Ohio’s registered voters will be able to change their addresses online.
To change an address online, voters can visit the Ohio Secretary of State page at MyOhioVote.com. Anyone who registers between now and October will also be put in a line to receive an application to vote by mail for the November elections.
