Place Absentee Vote Drop Boxes Throughout Cleveland: Mayor

CLEVELAND — Mayor Frank Jackson would like ballot drop boxes to be accessible 24 hours a day for the November election.

Jackson also urged the state to place several ballot drop boxes throughout Cleveland.

Jackson wrote a letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose last week. Cleveland's mayor urged LaRose to pursue regularly accessible drop boxes for both absentee ballot requests and completed ballots.

"The November general election is less than 100 days away, and the influence of COVID-19 on election turnout and participation is difficult to predict," Jackson wrote. He then argued offsite ballot drop boxes could improve the voting process in three ways.

1. Offsite drop boxes eliminate the need for face-to-face contact, Jackson said, reducing the risk of COVID-19 for election officials and voters.
2. Offsite drop boxes reduce stress on the postal system.
3. Offsite drop boxes placed at multiple locations throughout Cleveland will prevent traffic jams and large gatherings of voters.

“Free and fair elections are important to maintaining the quality of life for Cleveland residents," Jackson said.