Why We May Not Know the Winner of the Election For At Least 10 Days

Front of Ohio Statehouse

Kenneth Blackwell, former Secretary of State for Ohio, was recently interviewed on AFA Radio 88.9FM Steubenville and had an article written in NewsMax about his fears that a little-known change in the Buckeye State’s absentee-ballot process could lead to a “nightmare scenario.”

Quoting from that NewsMax article: "And that scenario could force the entire country to wait 10 days after the election to find out who will be the next president of the United States. It’s a complicated situation, to say the least, but one that could have a far-reaching impact on the Nov. 6 election process.

For the first time in the key swing state’s history, Blackwell says, virtually all Ohio voters this year were mailed an application for an absentee ballot. In previous elections, most Ohio voters had to request an application for an absentee ballot to receive one. The concern is that thousands of Ohio voters may complete the absentee-ballot application and receive an absentee ballot, but not bother to complete and mail in the ballot.

Anyone who is sent an absentee ballot — including those who do not complete it and mail it in — and later shows up at the polls on Election Day to cast their ballot in person will be instructed to instead complete a provisional ballot. And under Ohio election law, provisional ballots cannot be opened until 10 days after an election. To read more about this potential problem in full, click on Ohio Voting Count 'Nightmare' Looms