Upcoming Elections
2009 Primary Election: 05/5/09
2009 General Election: 11/3/09
Polling Place Hours: Between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Click here to download an Ohio Frequently Asked Questions document created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Voter Registration Information
Click here for an Ohio Voter Registration Guide created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Registration Deadlines
Your voter registration form must be received or, if submitting your registration by mail, postmarked by the 30th day before the first election in which you want to vote.
Deadline for General Election: October 5, 2009.
Identification Required for Registration
When registering in person a registrant must provide:
- a current, valid Ohio driver's license number; or
- the last four digits of their social security number.
When registering by mail, if a voter does not provide a current, valid Ohio driver's license number or the last four digits of their social security number then they must enclose with an application a copy of one of the following firms of identification that shows the voter's name and current address:
- current valid photo identification card;
- military identification; or
- current (within one year) utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or government document (except board of elections notifications showing the voters name and current address.
How to Check Registration
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Check the Secretary of State's Voter Information website.
Voting Information
Identification Required to Vote
Early In Person and Absentee Voting
- The last four digits of voter's Social Security number;
- A driver's license number; or
- A copy of a current and valid photo identification, (i.e. Ohio driver's license, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and address; or
- A copy of a current utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the voter's name and current address (including from a public college or university).
Election Day Voting
- A current and valid photo identification (i.e. Ohio driver's license, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and address (does not need to be current address for driver's license or state id card);
- A military identification that shows the voter's name. (Does not need to show address); or
- A copy of a current utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the voter's name and current address (including from a public college or university).
How to Find Your Polling Place
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Check the Secretary of State's Voter Information website.
Absentee Voting
Click here to visit GoVoteAbsentee.org, a resource for absentee voters.
Any qualified Ohio voter may request and vote an absentee ballot without stating a reason.
Rules and Deadlines:
- All voters wishing to vote by absentee ballot must apply in writing, either in person or by mail, to the county board of elections where they are registered to vote.
- By mail: your application must be received by noon on the Saturday before the election at the board office where the voter is registered to vote.
- In person: you may go to your county board of elections office or another designated location no later than the day before an election and request, receive and vote your ballot
- A written application must contain all of the following information:
- Voter's name;
- Voter's signature;
- The address at which the voter is registered to vote;
- Date of birth;
- One of the following items showing proof of your identification:
- Voter's Ohio driver's license number; or
- The last four digits of the voter's Social Security number; or
- A copy of a current and valid photo identification, military identification, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter's name and current address. (Note: A voter cannot use a notice that the board of elections mailed to you as proof of identification.);
- A statement identifying the election for which the voter is requesting an absentee voter's ballot;
- A statement that the voter is a qualified elector; and
- If the ballot is to be mailed, the address where it should be mailed.
- Completed ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.
Early Voting
Ohio has no "early voting" option as such, but any voter may cast an in-person absentee ballot without cause as many as 35 days before the election.
In Ohio, voters can request, receive and vote by absentee ballot in person at the board office where they are registered to vote.
Information For People who have Moved or Changed Addresses
If the voter has moved within the same PRECINCT, the voter should go to the appropriate polling place for that precinct. If the voter registration list still lists the voter's old address, the voter will be asked to update his or her registration. If the updated address is within the precinct, the voter must be permitted to vote a regular ballot.
If the voter has moved to a different precinct within the same COUNTY and has not updated their address for voter registration purposes, the voter should go to new polling location that corresponds to his or her new address or to the county Board of Elections, complete and sign a Notice of Change of Address and vote a provisional ballot.
If the voter has moved from one county to another and has not updated their address for voter registration purposes, the voter should go to the Board of Elections office in the voter's NEW COUNTY, complete and sign a new voter registration form and vote a provisional ballot.
Information for People with Felony Convictions
Ohio law permits convicted felons to vote so long as they are not currently serving a felony sentence of incarceration. Once a convicted felon is released from physical incarceration (probation, parole, or completion of sentence), they can re-register to vote and vote.
For more information, go to the Secretary of State's website, or click here to download an Ohio Election Protection Manual created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
