(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (E) of section 111.44 of the Revised Code, whenever a
registered elector changes the place of residence of that registered elector from one precinct to
another within a county or from one county to another, or has a change of name, that registered
elector shall report the change by delivering a change of residence or change of name form,
whichever is appropriate, as prescribed by the secretary of state under section 3503.14 of the Revised
Code to the state or local office of a designated agency, a public high school or vocational school, a
public library, the office of the county treasurer, the office of the secretary of state, any office of the
registrar or deputy registrar of motor vehicles, or any office of a board of elections in person or by a
third person. Any voter registration, change of address, or change of name application, returned by
mail, may be sent only to the secretary of state or the board of elections.
A registered elector also may update the registration of that registered elector by filing a change of
residence or change of name form on the day of a special, primary, or general election at the polling
place in the precinct in which that registered elector resides or at the board of elections or at another
site designated by the board.
(B)(1)(a) Any registered elector who moves within a precinct on or prior to the day of a general,
primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence with the board of
elections may vote in that election by going to that registered elector's assigned polling place,
completing and signing a notice of change of residence, showing photo identification, and casting a
ballot.
(b) Any registered elector who changes the name of that registered elector and remains within a
precinct on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of
change of name with the board of elections may vote in that election by going to that registered
elector's assigned polling place, completing and signing a notice of a change of name, and casting a
provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If the registered elector provides to
the precinct election officials proof of a legal name change, such as a marriage license or court order
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that includes the elector's current and prior names, the elector may complete and sign a notice of
change of name and cast a regular ballot.
(2) Any registered elector who moves from one precinct to another within a county or moves from
one precinct to another and changes the name of that registered elector on or prior to the day of a
general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence or change of
name, whichever is appropriate, with the board of elections may vote in that election if that
registered elector complies with division (G) of this section or does all of the following:
(a) Appears at anytime during regular business hours on or after the twenty-eighth day prior to the
election in which that registered elector wishes to vote or, if the election is held on the day of a
presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday
prior to the election at the office of the board of elections, appears at any time during regular
business hours on the Monday prior to the election at the office of the board of elections, or appears
on the day of the election at either of the following locations:
(i) The polling place for the precinct in which that registered elector resides;
(ii) The office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the
Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors
may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections.
(b) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, the written affirmation on the
provisional ballot envelope, which shall serve as a notice of change of residence or change of name,
whichever is appropriate;
(c) Votes a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code at the polling place, at the
office of the board of elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code
the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that
other location instead of the office of the board of elections, whichever is appropriate, using the
address to which that registered elector has moved or the name of that registered elector as changed,
whichever is appropriate;
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(d) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a statement attesting that that
registered elector moved or had a change of name, whichever is appropriate, on or prior to the day of
the election, has voted a provisional ballot at the polling place for the precinct in which that
registered elector resides, at the office of the board of elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of
section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at
which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of
elections, whichever is appropriate, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location for that
particular election.
(C) Any registered elector who moves from one county to another county within the state on or prior
to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not registered to vote in the county to
which that registered elector moved may vote in that election if that registered elector complies with
division (G) of this section or does all of the following:
(1) Appears at any time during regular business hours on or after the twenty-eighth day prior to the
election in which that registered elector wishes to vote or, if the election is held on the day of a
presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday
prior to the election at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section
3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which
registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections,
appears during regular business hours on the Monday prior to the election at the office of the board
of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has
designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location
instead of the office of the board of elections, or appears on the day of the election at the office of the
board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board
has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other
location instead of the office of the board of elections;
(2) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, the written affirmation on the
provisional ballot envelope, which shall serve as a notice of change of residence;
(3) Votes a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code at the office of the board
of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has
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designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location
instead of the office of the board of elections, using the address to which that registered elector has
moved;
(4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a statement attesting that that
registered elector has moved from one county to another county within the state on or prior to the
day of the election, has voted at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of
section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at
which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of
elections, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location for that particular election.
(D) A person who votes by absent voter's ballots pursuant to division (G) of this section shall not
make written application for the ballots pursuant to Chapter 3509. of the Revised Code. Ballots cast
pursuant to division (G) of this section shall be set aside in a special envelope and counted during the
official canvass of votes in the manner provided for in sections 3505.32 and 3509.06 of the Revised
Code insofar as that manner is applicable. The board shall examine the pollbooks to verify that no
ballot was cast at the polls or by absent voter's ballots under Chapter 3509. or 3511. of the Revised
Code by an elector who has voted by absent voter's ballots pursuant to division (G) of this section.
Any ballot determined to be insufficient for any of the reasons stated above or stated in section
3509.07 of the Revised Code shall not be counted.
Subject to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code, a board of elections may lease or
otherwise acquire a site different from the office of the board at which registered electors may vote
pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section.
(E) Upon receiving a notice of change of residence or change of name, the board of elections shall
immediately send the registrant an acknowledgment notice. If the change of residence or change of
name notice is valid, the board shall update the voter's registration as appropriate. If that form is
incomplete, the board shall inform the registrant in the acknowledgment notice specified in this
division of the information necessary to complete or update that registrant's registration.
(F) Change of residence and change of name forms shall be available at each polling place, and when
these forms are completed, noting changes of residence or name, as appropriate, they shall be filed
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with election officials at the polling place. Election officials shall return completed forms, together
with the pollbooks and tally sheets, to the board of elections.
The board of elections shall provide change of residence and change of name forms to the probate
court and court of common pleas. The court shall provide the forms to any person eighteen years of
age or older who has a change of name by order of the court or who applies for a marriage license.
The court shall forward all completed forms to the board of elections within five days after receiving
them.
(G) A registered elector who otherwise would qualify to vote under division (B) or (C) of this section
but is unable to appear at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section
3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which
registered electors may vote, at that other location, on account of personal illness, physical disability,
or infirmity, may vote on the day of the election if that registered elector does all of the following:
(1) Makes a written application on a form prescribed by the secretary of state that includes all of the
information required under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code to the appropriate board for an
absent voter's ballot on or after the twenty-seventh day prior to the election in which the registered
elector wishes to vote through the close of business on the seventh day prior to that election and
requests that the absent voter's ballot be sent to the address to which the registered elector has moved
if the registered elector has moved, or to the address of that registered elector who has not moved but
has had a change of name;
(2) Declares that the registered elector has moved or had a change of name, whichever is appropriate,
and otherwise is qualified to vote under the circumstances described in division (B) or (C) of this
section, whichever is appropriate, but that the registered elector is unable to appear at the board of
elections because of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity;
(3) Completes and returns along with the completed absent voter's ballot a notice of change of
residence indicating the address to which the registered elector has moved, or a notice of change of
name, whichever is appropriate;
(4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a statement attesting that the
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registered elector has moved or had a change of name on or prior to the day before the election, has
voted by absent voter's ballot because of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity that
prevented the registered elector from appearing at the board of elections, and will not vote or attempt
to vote at any other location or by absent voter's ballot mailed to any other location or address for
that particular election.
Page 6§ 3503.16Change of address or name
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Primary source. The text above is the canonical statute body as it appears in this revision of the atlas. Verify against the official gazette before quoting in litigation or formal advice. Spot an error? Suggest a correction.