Senate Bill 293 ends the long-standing policy that allowed mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrived within four days afterward. Beginning with the 2026 election cycle, all absentee ballots must arrive at county boards of elections by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted.
DeWine said he would have preferred to veto the measure but felt obligated to sign it due to a recent decision by a federal court in Mississippi suggesting that post-Election Day grace periods may violate federal law. He said the change was necessary to prevent “chaotic litigation” that could disrupt the upcoming 2026 elections.
“I’m not convinced this is the best policy for Ohio voters, but the legal landscape has changed dramatically,” DeWine said in a statement. “Failing to act now could put our entire election process at risk of inconsistent rulings and confusion when voters deserve clarity.”
Supporters of the bill, largely Republican lawmakers, argued that eliminating the grace period ensures uniformity in how votes are counted statewide and prevents potential challenges to late-arriving ballots.
Democrats and voting-rights groups criticized the move as unnecessary and potentially disenfranchising, especially for rural voters and members of the military whose mail ballots often face delays.
Ohio joins several other states moving to tighten ballot deadlines ahead of the 2026 general election in response to evolving federal court interpretations of election law.