Giving speeches at the Lincoln Day Dinner Thursday were former Ohio State University quarterback Stanley Jackson and Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted.
"We're under a 100 days before (absentee) voting starts in Ohio and in America," Husted said. "It's now an election season - that's 45 days long."
Jackson spoke about his personal views in supporting the Republican Party, while Husted talked about how the process of casting an absentee ballot will change for this November election.
"Myself - like President Obama - have evolved," said Jackson. "I grew up in Patterson, N.J., where my father was one of the most conservative men you will ever meet."
Jackson continued to talk about personal belief.s
"I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman," he said.
Husted gave some perspective on absentee voting.
"We're going to send out absentee ballot requests in all 88 counties," he said.
Larger counties seem to be used to voting through absentee.
"We were mailing them out in Franklin County and 50 percent were voting through mail," Husted said.
Husted, a Republican, said he spoke with Mitt Romney in Cincinnati Wednesday.
"We have a real opportunity to have the leadership to put us on the right course," he said in his speech about his meeting with Romney.
"The biggest challenge today is facing misinformation from partisans and activists and providing information on what's going on in elections," Husted said in a phone interview.
"We have identified federal funds to use this (absentee balloting) in all 88 counties through the Help America Vote Act," Husted said. "It's never been easier to vote and it's convenient and secure."
He said postage to mail absentee ballots to all registered Ohio voters will be $2 million to $3 million for local and consolidated precincts.
There are 36,104 registered voters in Seneca County, said Andrea Carroll, Seneca County Board of Elections deputy director.
"It doesn't mean that people have to vote, but it gives people the opportunity to vote," she said.
