Cecily Zamora
If you have questions about voting laws in Ohio, you can contact your Local Election Office, which is the government office responsible for running elections in your region. You can also call or text the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683 if anyone tries to stop you from voting. If you have questions about absentee ballots, check with your county Board of Elections. Contact information for Ohio's 88 county Boards of Elections is located on the Secretary of State's website.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who to call if someone stops you from voting | Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683 |
| Who to call to check your voter registration status | Ohio Secretary of State's website or Franklin County Board of Elections website (if in Franklin County) |
| Who to call to check your polling place location | County Board of Elections |
| Who to call to request an absentee ballot | Local Election Office |
| Who can deliver a disabled voter's ballot | Any person of their choosing except their employer or an officer in their union |
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What You'll Learn
Voter registration
Eligibility
To be eligible to vote in Ohio, you must be a resident of the state for at least 30 days before the election. You cannot be incarcerated for a felony conviction, have been declared incompetent for voting by a probate court, or be permanently disenfranchised for violating election laws. You must also be at least 18 years old to vote, and you can pledge to register if you are not yet of age.
Registration Process
The registration process is straightforward and can be completed in under 2 minutes. You can register online via the official State of Ohio website, VoteOhio.gov, or by mailing your application to a county board of elections or the Secretary of State's office. Remember to review your application carefully for accuracy and completeness before submitting it.
Deadlines
Ensure that your application is submitted no later than 30 days before the election. You can vote at the designated polling place serving the precinct in which you are registered. If you are unsure about the location or hours of your polling place, you can check with your county Board of Elections.
Absentee Voting
Registered voters in Ohio can apply for an absentee ballot and vote by mail or in person before Election Day. You can request an absentee ballot through the Absentee Ballot Tool on Vote.org. Carefully follow the instructions, sign, and date the form before returning it to your Local Election Office.
Voter ID
When voting in person, you may be asked to present a valid form of identification. Acceptable forms of ID include a current U.S. passport, Ohio driver's license, state ID, or military ID with your name and photo.
Checking Registration Status
You can check your voter registration status on the Ohio Secretary of State's website. Simply provide your last name, street name, zip code, and county to search for your registration information.
By following these steps, you can ensure that you are registered to vote and ready to participate in Ohio's elections.
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Eligibility and residency requirements
To be eligible to vote in Ohio, you must be a resident of the state for at least 30 days before the election. Your residence is considered to be your permanent address, and the place where you intend to return when absent. If you do not have a fixed place of habitation, but you are a regular inhabitant of a shelter or location that you intend to return to, you may use that address for voting purposes.
Ohio is not considered your voting residence if you have moved to another state, intend to make that state your residence, or continuously reside outside of Ohio for four years or more. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if you are a military voter, your voting residence is the place in Ohio where you lived before leaving for service. If you are a college student, you may vote using your school residence address if you do not intend to return to a different permanent address.
Additionally, you must not be incarcerated for a felony conviction, have been declared incompetent for voting by a probate court, or have been permanently disenfranchised for violating election laws. If you have completed a felony prison sentence, you are eligible to register to vote, even if you are still on parole or probation.
To register to vote, you must complete a voter registration application and submit it to a county board of elections or the Secretary of State's office. You can also have another person deliver your application for you. Your application must be received no later than 30 days before the election.
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Absentee ballots
Once you have completed the application form, print and sign it, and mail it back to your county board of elections. You can find the board mailing addresses at OhioSoS.gov/boards. After submitting your request, you will receive your ballot in the mail. If you have any questions about your absentee ballot request, you can call your county board of elections or track the status of your ballot request through the Voter Toolkit.
Your voted absentee ballot must be returned by mail and postmarked no later than the day before Election Day. It must be received by your county board of elections no later than 10 days after the election. Please note that a postmark does not include a date marked by a postage meter or other postage evidence systems. If you do not vote using your absentee ballot and decide to vote in person at your assigned polling place on Election Day, you must vote using a provisional ballot.
Absentee voting offers several benefits, including the convenience of voting from home, the ability to vote early, reduced wait times at the polls on Election Day, and the assurance that your vote will be among the first counted on Election Night. Remember to double-check the deadlines for requesting and returning your absentee ballot to ensure your vote is counted.
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Curbside voting
In Ohio, curbside voting is available for voters with disabilities who are unable to enter their polling place. Voters can request that two precinct election officials from the major political parties bring a ballot to them. Voters may then sit in their car and vote, or they may vote at the door of the building. Voters with disabilities can also request that a county board of elections deliver a ballot to them if they are confined to a public or private institution.
To register to vote in Ohio, you must complete a voter registration application and submit it to a county board of elections or the Secretary of State's office by the registration deadline, which is 30 days before the election. You can cast your ballot at the polling place designated to serve the precinct in which you are registered. If you are unsure about the location or hours of your polling place, you can check with your county Board of Elections.
To be eligible to vote in Ohio, you must be a resident of the state for at least 30 days before the election. You cannot be incarcerated (in prison or jail) for a felony conviction or have been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court. Additionally, you must not have been permanently disenfranchised for violating election laws.
If you are unable to mark your ballot due to a disability, you may bring someone with you to help you vote, or you may ask for assistance from precinct election officials. However, the person helping you cannot tell you how to mark your ballot or provide information to others about how you voted. Under Ohio law, all voting locations must be accessible to people with disabilities and provide an accessible voting machine.
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Voter ID laws
For those who are unable to provide photo ID, there are alternative options available. Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast provisional ballots. A provisional voter who does not have or cannot provide a photo ID must appear at the board of elections by the 4th day after Election Day to show a photo ID, or their ballot will be rejected.
Ohio also accepts other government documents as valid forms of voter identification. These include documents issued by any government office, including local, state, or federal government offices, agencies, departments, and divisions. Examples of acceptable government documents include letters, tax bills, licenses, notices, court papers, grade reports, and transcripts. The name and address on the government document must match the voter's information in the Poll List or Poll Book and must be current within 12 months of Election Day.
It is important to note that Ohio voting laws have recently undergone some changes. As of 2023, voters can no longer provide a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, or the last four digits of their Social Security Number as valid forms of ID. Additionally, any person 17 and over who applies for and receives a state ID card from the BMV will receive it for free, and a state ID card is now deemed the primary form of photo ID for individuals without a driver's license or with a suspended license.
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Frequently asked questions
You can contact your Local Election Office with any questions about absentee ballots.
You can call or text the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683.
You can check your registration status by contacting your Local Election Office or by using the online Register to Vote Tool.
You can call your county Board of Elections to ask about voting laws for people with disabilities.
