If you are a registered Ohio voter you may have already received a letter from the Ohio Secretary of State labeled "Official Election Mail."

Here's what it's all about:

All registered voters, who have kept their address current within Ohio's voter database, will receive a letter along with an absentee ballot application

The first round of applications will be mailed out Aug. 31, 2012, arriving in mailboxes after Labor Day.

A second supplemental mailing in early October, will include voters who have registered or updated their information after Aug. 6, 2012.

To visit the Ohio Secretary of State's website for more information click here.

To receive your absentee ballot by mail, do the following:
• Complete the application, including ALL required fields,
• Sign and date the application,
• Tear off the application and insert it into the envelope provided, ensuring the county board of elections address is showing,
• Add a stamp to the envelope, and
• Put the envelope / application into the mail or drop it off to your county board of elections office.

Completed applications will be processed by local county boards of elections, which will mail out the ballots.

Applications must be received by county boards of elections no later than noon on
Nov. 3, 2012.

If you apply for an absentee ballot, but change your mind and go to your polling place to vote on Election Day, you will be required to vote a provisional ballot that cannot be counted until at least 10 days after Election Day.

If you do not receive the mailing, click here to fill out an absentee ballot application that you will be able to send to your county board of elections.

Once you request an absentee ballot, you will receive it in the mail starting Oct. 2, 2012.  

• Treat this ballot exactly as you would the ballot you vote on Election Day.
• Complete the absentee ballot according to the instructions on the ballot.
• Once complete, insert your ballot into the envelope provided with the ballot.
• Place a stamp on the envelope (check postage, make sure you have enough postage) and put that in the mail or drop it off at your local county board of elections.
• All absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov. 5, and received by the county board of elections by Nov. 16, 2012.
• Your ballot will be counted by your county board of elections and included in the official tally.