COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP): Ohio's elections chief will soon mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters with up-to-date addresses ahead of the fall election.



Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO'-sted) says residents should begin getting the applications around Labor Day.



Ohioans can cast an absentee ballot by mail or in person without giving any reason.



The applications were sent statewide ahead of the last presidential election. About 1.3 million Ohioans voted by mail. Another 600,500 voted early in person.



The 2012 mailings came after Husted initially barred counties from sending out unsolicited ballot applications to voters. He had said it led to voter disparity and wanted all 88 counties to follow uniform procedures.



In prior elections, the state's largest counties mailed voters absentee ballot applications without residents requesting the paperwork.