This morning, outside the Hamilton County Board of Elections, I asked a man why he chose to vote early.  His response was along the lines of, "I'm old, and I may not make it to Election Day."

Although he looked healthy enough to me, he seemed to be half-serious.

So, what happens if someone casts a ballot early, and dies before Election Day?

Deputy Election Director Sally Krisel says their vote should not count.  However, it could.

Early, or absentee ballots, are kept, sealed, in an envelope with the name of the voter for much of the next three weeks.  Then, ten days before the election, those early votes are prepped for counting on Election Day.  That process separates them from the envelope with the name.

So, essentially, if you die eleven days before the election, election board employees will pull your ballot out of the stacks.  However, ten days to go and counting, the search for a ballot becomes infinitely more difficult.