A tighter deadline for mail‑in ballots is forcing Ohio college voters to act faster than ever before.
Key points
- Ohio’s Senate Bill 293 now requires mail‑in ballots to be received by Election Day, eliminating the previous four‑day post‑election grace period.
- Miami University students are adjusting by seeking early assistance from the Wilks Institute and by planning to mail or drop off ballots well before the deadline.
- Election officials advise using drop boxes or in‑person delivery if mailing delays threaten timely receipt, and they allow ballot corrections up to four days after the election.
In December 2025, Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 293 into law, ending Ohio’s practice of accepting mail‑in ballots up to four days after Election Day and moving the deadline to the close of polls on Election Day itself. Lawmakers said the change was meant to “enhance election integrity,” while critics warn it could disenfranchise thousands of voters, noting that about 7,800 mail‑in ballots were received during the previous grace period in the 2024 election.
The new rule took effect for the May 5, 2025 primary and will be fully felt in the November 2026 general election. For students at Miami University, many of whom are away from home and juggling demanding schedules, the shift means they must mail their absentee ballots earlier or find alternative ways to vote.
New Ohio Election Law
Junior Nathan Lomnicky, a games‑and‑simulation and computer‑science major, illustrates the challenge. His completed ballot has sat in a backpack for weeks because he lacks an Ohio‑issued photo ID, which is required for in‑person voting. Instead, he must rely on an absentee ballot that can be verified with a Social Security number, forcing him to purchase a stamp and mail the ballot well before the election.
To help students navigate the tighter timeline, the university‑sanctioned Wilks Institute for Leadership and Service has set up information tables across campus. Assistant director for civic engagement Alexis Gomes advises students to “be intentional about the timelines” and, when possible, to vote in person with a valid Ohio photo ID, which she says is the safest way to ensure a vote is counted.
Student Strategies on Campus
Butler County Board of Elections deputy director Eric Corbin echoes the need for early action, noting that standard mail can take one to five business days and that reduced USPS staffing may cause further delays. He recommends dropping ballots off at the county board’s drop box or handing them directly to staff if mailing deadlines are at risk. Once received, ballots are processed within one to two days, and voters can track their absentee ballot online. If a ballot has errors, the board will contact the voter and allow corrections up to four days after the election.
Despite the extra steps, Lomnicky says he will not skip voting. He spent a brief break between classes to buy a stamp and drop his ballot at the Shriver Center mail desk, emphasizing that voting remains “the most consistent and effective way” to have a voice in the issues he cares about.
Reader questions
When must Ohio mail‑in ballots be received under the new law?
Ballots must be received by the voter’s county board of elections by the close of polls on Election Day; the previous four‑day grace period has been eliminated.
What resources does Miami University offer to help students vote?
The Wilks Institute for Leadership and Service provides voter‑registration assistance, ballot‑request guidance, informational tables, and a non‑partisan “Party at the Polls” event with food and games.
What should a student do if their mailed ballot hasn’t arrived by Election Day?
Students can drive the ballot to their county board of elections and either drop it in the designated box or hand it to staff; they can also track the ballot online and correct any issues within four days after the election.
Source: miamistudent.net