Time is of the essence this election season, and we cannot stress enough to Ohio voters that you must not delay if you intend to cast your ballot in this month’s all-mail primary election.

Election officials in both Trumbull and Mahoning counties, not to mention Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, each has expressed concern about the challenges presented by the tight timeline in reacting to voters’ requests for absentee ballots.

After all those ballots are mailed out, then they must be returned in time for the April 28 deadline.

In the days after Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton canceled Ohio’s March 17 in-person primary because of public health concerns triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio’s Legislature passed legislation creating an April 28 primary with no in-person voting except for those with qualifying disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and those without access to the postal system.

According to the new law, LaRose sent postcards to every registered voter explaining the process.

Just in case you missed yours, here is how you may request your absentee ballot:

l Go to VoteOhio.gov and fill out a form to request your absentee ballot;

l Or mail a written request to your county board of elections requesting your ballot.

The request needs to list your full name, date of birth, full address including county and either your driver’s license number or last four digits of your Social Security number. Write: “I’m a qualified elector and I’m requesting an absentee ballot for the 3/17/2020 Ohio primary.” Voters also need to specify if they want a Democratic, Republican, Libertarian or issues-only ballot (choose only one), and sign and date the request. It’s also suggested that you include a phone number and email address.

l Or call your county board of elections to request an absentee ballot. Trumbull County Board of Elections can be reached at 330-369-4050; Mahoning County Board of Elections’ number is 330-783-2474.

We urge you to do this today.

After the board of elections receives your request, workers will mail a ballot to you.

You then will be able to complete your ballot and return it to your board of elections.

All this must be done with a postmark no later than April 27, and the ballot must arrive at the board of elections no later than May 8 to be counted.

If you prefer not to mail the ballot, you may drop it off in person to your board of elections office. Both Trumbull and Mahoning county boards of elections have placed ballot dropboxes in front of their offices.

The Mahoning County Board of Elections address is 345 Oak Hill Ave., Suite 101, Youngstown, OH 44502.

The Trumbull County Board of Elections is located at 2947 Youngstown Road SE, Warren, OH 44484.

For more details, visit VoteOhio.gov.

We are troubled by this short turnaround period, and we urge voters not to delay.

Even in times of health crisis, democracy must not be abandoned. Ohio voters need to know that, and they need to understand the unusual and confusing process necessary to vote in this primary election.

For that reason, voters must be attentive to the requirements, speedy in their ballot requests and just as quick in returning those ballots in order to have them counted.

editorial@tribtoday.com