Ohio Ends Mail Ballot Grace Period for Upcoming Primary

New state law requires mail ballots to be returned by 7:30 PM on Election Day

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:03pm

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A photorealistic painting of an empty metal ballot drop box on a city street corner, with the box illuminated by warm, angled sunlight and surrounded by deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the changes to Ohio's voting laws.The new law's elimination of the mail ballot grace period casts a somber mood over Ohio's upcoming primary election.Cleveland Today

Voters in Ohio's Cuyahoga County must return mail ballots by 7:30 PM on Election Day for the upcoming May 5 primary election, under a new state law that ends the previous four-day grace period for receiving mail ballots. The law also includes other changes, such as requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and monthly checks of the state's voter registration database.

Why it matters

The new election law changes in Ohio are part of a broader national debate over voting access and election integrity. While Republicans argue the changes better protect elections, Democrats warn they could make voting harder, particularly for certain groups of voters.

The details

Under the previous law, absentee ballots in Ohio were counted if they were postmarked no later than the day before Election Day and arrived within four days after it. The new law, Senate Bill 293, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in December, requires mail ballots to be physically in the possession of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on Election Day. The law also includes other changes, such as requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote, monthly checks of the state's voter registration database, and challenges to voters flagged as non-citizens on their driver's license or state ID.

  • The new law will be in effect for the May 5 primary election in Ohio.
  • Voters flagged for discrepancies in their registration records must provide corrections by April 20 to cast a regular ballot.

The players

Mike DeWine

The governor of Ohio who signed Senate Bill 293 into law in December.

Anthony Perlatti

The director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

Donald Trump

The former president who issued an executive order related to election procedures, which Perlatti said will have no bearing on the May 5 contest in Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“That is no longer the case.”

— Anthony Perlatti, Director, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

“I 'reluctantly signed' the bill, calling the four-day grace period 'reasonable' but citing concerns about a pending U.S. Supreme Court case out of Mississippi that had the potential to render such grace periods unconstitutional.”

— Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio

“States govern their own elections.”

— Anthony Perlatti, Director, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

What’s next

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections will continue to work with voters to address any discrepancies in their registration records ahead of the May 5 primary election.

The takeaway

The new election law changes in Ohio reflect the ongoing national debate over voting access and election integrity, with Republicans arguing the changes better protect elections and Democrats warning they could make voting harder for certain groups of voters. As the May 5 primary approaches, election officials will be working to ensure a smooth process for all eligible voters.