Voting in Ohio

Change My State

Presidential Primary Election

03/19/2024
Election Date
02/20/2024
Voter Registration Deadline (by mail - postmarked, in-person, online)

Vote By Mail Deadlines

03/12/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
03/18/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Postmarked By)

Early Voting Dates

02/21/2024
Early Voting Begins
03/17/2024
Early Voting Ends

The upcoming election is a presidential primary. Learn About Presidential Primaries

Polling place hours: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Register to Vote
Frequently Asked Questions

Ohio Board of Elections Phone Number: (614) 466-2585

Ohio Board of Elections Website

Having trouble at the polls?

Call or text: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Register to Vote in Ohio

Whether you are registering to vote for the first time, or need to update your address, name or party affiliation - we've got you covered!

Am I Registered?

Not sure if you are eligible to vote due to a felony conviction?
Click here to learn more.

Ohio Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! You can check your voter registration online on Ohio’s elections office website here, or you can contact the Board of Elections at 614-466-2585.

It can take several weeks. Most states send out voter registration cards within 5 to 7 weeks after receiving the registration. If you do not receive a registration card in the mail, contact your state election office to confirm you are registered. Find your state’s contact information in our How to Vote in Your State section on this page! In any event, you should verify your registration a week prior to the voter registration deadline in your state in case you need to fill out a new registration form or correct your form.

Elections take place all the time throughout the year, and odds are, you probably have an election coming up in your state! In addition to the presidential election and midterm elections, you have statewide, countywide and municipal elections that you can make your voice heard in. Make sure you know when your upcoming elections are so that you don’t miss a single one! Check out when your next election is here.

Your state provides an online ballot tracking system. You can track your ballot here!

YES you are able to register to vote at your student address. You should provide your official campus mailing address as well as the actual physical address of your on or off campus residence when registering to vote. You must have some sort of proof of address and residency that can be presented at your polling place (mail, a student ID, etc.). For more information, we suggest visiting your state’s elections office website. Remember: you can only register to vote and vote in one place, whether that is your student address or your home address!

YES, unhoused voters can register to vote and use their voice in Ohio’s elections. Unhoused voters or voters without a permanent address may list a shelter address, street corner, or park as their address. For more information on voting while unhoused, visit our friends at the National Coalition for the Homeless.

YES. In this case you must register at the last address you had before you left the USA, or at the address to which you will return to when returning to the USA (you must present some indication of a present intent to return and live there – e.g. vehicle registration, driver’s license, property ownership, family, etc). If you have never had a permanent address in the United States but are a citizen you are allowed to register at an address you plan on moving to or an address where you currently have family living. Access more information on voting overseas here.

You may call the voting rights hotline at 866 687-8683, if informing another poll worker isn’t successful. They have lawyers ready to help you. Additionally, you can call the civil rights division of the U.S Department of Justice.

You can also find Ohio’s elections office here and contact them by phone at 614-466-2585.

Vote By Mail

Request and track

Notice: Mail-in voting is a convenient and safe way to vote, but your ballot might not count if it’s submitted late or with errors. So follow the directions below on how to vote early or absentee and make your vote count in Ohio.

Vote By Mail Deadlines

03/12/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
03/18/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Postmarked By)

How Vote By Mail Works in Ohio

Voting by mail is a two step process in Ohio.

Step 1: Request your ballot NOW. The deadline for your application to be received is seven days before Election Day. 

  • Be sure to include your in-state ID number or proof of residence on your application.

Step 2: Complete and return your ballot ASAP.

  • Return in person to your county election office or county designated dropbox by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
  • Return by mail no later than March 18th, the day before Election Day. Your ballot must be received no later than 4 days after Election Day to be counted. To make your postmark date, put the ballot into your home mailbox for collection at least one day prior to ensure it is picked up and processed. You can also drop the ballot off at the post office before the last posted collection time on the Monday before Election Day. We recommend returning ASAP.

Click Here to See Your Ballot

Where to Sign Your Ballot

Remember to sign your return ballot.

After you complete your ballot, be sure to sign the ID envelope. You must also include your in-state ID number and social security number. You may also enclose a copy of your valid in-state photo ID in place of writing the numbers on the statement.

Be sure that your signature matches your signature on file with the state! If you registered online or at the DMV, check the signature on your license. If the signature does not match, your ballot could be tossed and will not count.

ID Requirements to Vote By Mail

All voters are required to provide ID when voting by mail.

ID is required with application to vote by mail.

When applying for an absentee ballot, you must provide either the last four digits of your Social Security number, the entirety of your Ohio driver’s license or state ID card number, or a copy of your photo identification sent in the envelope with your absentee ballot request.

How You Can Return Your Mail-in Ballot

If you return your ballot by mail, you must add a stamp when mailing in your ballot.

You can also drop off your ballot in person at your local elections office, or drop box.

Track Your Ballot

Track your ballot by clicking here.

Haven't used your ballot?

Yes, but you may be required to vote by a provisional ballot. This is better than not voting at all!

Opportunities to Fix Challenges to Your Ballot

Ohio does offer voters a chance to address challenges to their ballot.

Your state has a cure period, which means you can “cure” a challenge to the signature on your ballot if it was done incorrectly. Your local elections office is required to contact you and give you options to remedy your ballot. You may cure your ballot until the 7th day after Election Day.

You may get a call from a number you do not recognize with a notification that you need to cure your ballot. Be sure to pick so you don’t miss your chance to make sure your vote is counted.

Voter ID

Do Voters Need ID?

Ohio voters must show ID at the polls to vote. All ID must have an expiration date that has not passed, a photograph of the voter and the voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book. Valid forms of identification include;

  • Ohio driver’s license;
  • State of Ohio ID card;
  • Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
  • A US passport;
  • A US passport card;
  • US military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
    All photo IDs must have the following:

An unexpired Ohio Driver License, State ID Card, or Interim Documentation with your former address IS an ACCEPTABLE form of ID when your current address is in the pollbook.

Voter ID in Ohio

Find Your Ballot

Enter your address below to see what you can expect on Election Day.

Primaries

Presidential Primaries

Primary Type (D): Open
Primary Type (R): Open

Ohio voters may choose a party’s ballot at the polls. No party affiliation is required at registration. See Ohio’s Republican Party or Democratic Party sites for more details.

In addition to the president, the Ohio primary election includes the following races:
– U.S. senator
– U.S. representatives
– State elected officials
– State legislators
– Judicial races
– Municipal elected officials

Automatic Registration

Your state automatically registers people to vote at the address on their drivers license or other state issued ID card. If you have moved but have not updated your ID with your new address, changed your name or want to add a political party selection, you must update your voter registration. Click here to check to see if you are registered to vote, and update your registration if needed.

Election Day Registration

You can register to vote and cast your ballot on Election Day at your polling place or local elections office. Bring a valid ID and proof of residence with you.

In-Person Absentee Voting

In-Person Absentee Dates

02/21/2024
Voting Begins
03/17/2024
Voting Ends

You can vote in-person absentee in Ohio

To vote in person absentee you request, fill out, and return your ballot at designated early voting locations.

Preregister

Some states have laws that specifically allow citizens to preregister at a certain age while others allow registration as long as you’re 18 by the next election. Preregistration means you’ll be automatically registered to vote on your 18th birthday without taking any additional steps.

In Ohio, you can preregister to vote if you are 18 by the next election. Register to vote today!

Some states even let you vote in their primaries at 17 if you’ll be 18 by the general election so you can participate in the whole process!

You can vote in the Ohio primaries if you are 17 by the next election.