Ohio

Land Acknowledgement

Ohio is not home to any federally recognized tribes, but it is the traditional homeland of many tribes.

Overview

You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person. The deadline to register to vote is October 11. You must bring a valid form of ID to vote in person in Ohio.

Key Dates

October 11: Voter Registration Deadline

October 12: Early voting starts

November 5: Deadline to request a mail-in ballot (12PM)

November 7: Early voting ends & Day by which mail-in ballots must be postmarked

November 8: Election day! Deadline for mail-in ballots to be dropped off

November 15: Deadline to confirm provisional ballots

November 18: Deadline for mail-in ballots to be received

Contacts

County Board of Elections
Secretary of State: (877) 767-6446

Ohio Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • The voter registration deadline is October 11.

  • No.

  • To register online you need an Ohio driver's license or State ID, your name, date of birth, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. When registering by mail, if you do not have or do not provide an Ohio driver's license or the last four digits of your Social Security Number, you must include a copy of one of the following forms of ID:

    • current and valid photo ID

    • Military ID

    • a current (within the last 12 months): utility bill; bank statement; government check; paycheck; or government document that shows your name and current address.

  • Ohio requires a residential address that is your permanent place of habitation with a house and street number. You can also provide an additional mailing address if you receive mail at an address different from your residential address. If you do not have a fixed place of residence, but have a place you consistently and regularly return to, such as a shelter or other location, you can use that address for registering.

  • Call your County Board of Elections to check if your address is valid or for more information.

  • You can get an Ohio ID on this website.

  • Yes. You can register to vote online. To register to vote online, you will need to provide an Ohio driver's license or State ID number.

  • No.

  • Yes. Contact your County Board of Elections to register to vote in person.

    Find contact information

  • Yes. Download this application, complete it, and mail it to your County Board of Elections. Find their mailing address here.

  • Yes. As long as you are not currently incarcerated because of a felony conviction, you have the right to vote. If you have been convicted of two or more violations of Ohio's election laws, you are not eligible to vote. In that case, your right to vote can only be restored through a pardon.

  • You can contact your County Board of Elections with specific questions about registering to vote. Find their contact information here. You can also call the Secretary of State at (877) 767-6446.

  • The voter registration deadline is October 11.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • You can check your voter registration online using this website.

  • You can call your County Board of Elections to check your voter registration, which you can find here. You can also call the Secretary of State at (877) 767-6446.

  • To update your voter registration if you have moved or changed your name, you must re-register to vote. This can be done online if you have an Ohio driver's license or State ID. If you do not have one of these things, re-register by mail.

  • Ohio does not have a specific inactive voter rule. However, you can check your registration status online.

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • You can get a mail-in ballot by calling your County Board of Elections or by mailing in an application. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is November 5. Your County Board of Elections will contact you if you need to correct something on your ballot. Mail-in ballots must be dropped off by November 8. If you are mailing in your ballot, it must be postmarked by November 7 and received no later than November 18.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • You can get a mail-in ballot by contacting your County Board of Elections and having an application mailed to you, by printing an application and mailing it to your County Board of Elections, by making you own mail-in ballot request, or by calling (877) 767-6446.

    Find the application form here or here.

    Find your County Board of Elections contact information

    Find information on how to submit your own request

  • No.

  • Yes.

  • The deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot is November 5.

  • Ohio will begin sending out mail-in ballots October 10.

  • You mail-in ballot will be sent to the address at which you registered to vote, unless you designate on your application a different mailing address. This other mailing address can be a P.O. Box.

  • Yes.

  • Ballots must be postmarked by November 7 and received no later than November 18. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot one week prior to the state deadline, but mail in your ballot as soon as possible.

  • Yes. Ballots can be returned in person to your County Board of Elections or to a ballot drop box by 7:30PM on Election Day.

  • You can have a family member return your ballot for you. Ohio classifies a family member as your: spouse; parent; parent-in-law; grandparent; sibling or half-sibling; child; adoptive parent or child; stepparent or child; uncle or aunt; or niece or nephew.

  • No. Ballots must be sent through USPS.

  • No.

  • Yes. Double check the information you provide is complete and accurate and make sure that you sign your ballot so it is not thrown out. Include a phone number or email address on your ballot. If you need to remedy something on your ballot, your County Board of Elections will call or email you.

  • Yes. You can track your ballot using this website.

  • If you have any questions or issues with your mail-in ballot, contact your County Board of Elections. You can also call the Secretary of State at (877) 767-6446.

Voting In-Person

  • You can find your polling place and hours on this website.

  • No.

  • Yes. Early voting is from October 12 through November 7. Find your in person early voting location.

  • Yes. You need to bring identification with you to vote. Examples of valid ID include:

    • current and valid photo ID

    • Military ID

    • a copy of a current (within 12 months): utility bill; bank statement; government check; paycheck; or other government document that shows your name and current address.

    You can also provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number if you do not have any of the above and vote a provisional ballot. Find more details on voter ID requirements.

  • You can get an Ohio ID on this website.

  • Yes. If you do not have a valid form of ID on Election Day you can vote a provisional ballot and return to your County Board of Elections within 7 days after Election Day to provide a valid form of ID for your ballot to be counted.

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • If you have any questions about voting in person, contact your County Board of Elections. You can also call the Secretary of State at (877) 767-6446.