Ohio Election FAQs

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We get it. Elections can be confusing. From where to vote to how to vote to what to vote, it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. Take a look below to find answers to some of the most commonly asked election questions!

Don’t see your question? Go to the Secretary of State’s Office at www.ohiosos.gov.

Can my church distribute election resources?

Yes. Churches with a 501(c)(3) tax status are allowed to distribute nonpartisan election resources like the information on BuckeyeBallot.com.

Can my church speak in favor of or opposition to a ballot initiative?

Yes. Churches with a 501(c)(3) tax status are allowed to support or oppose ballot initiatives.

Can my church endorse or oppose a candidate for office?

No. Churches with a 501(c)(3) tax status are prohibited from endorsing or opposing candidates. For more information, visit www.adfchurchalliance.org/electionguide.

When is the General Election?

Early in-person and mail-in absentee voting for the 2024 General Election begins on Tuesday, October 8. Polls are open on Election Day—Tuesday, November 5—from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.

What is the deadline to register to vote?

You must register or update your voter registration no later than 30 days prior to an election.

Upcoming voter registration deadline:

  • Monday, October 7, 2024, for the Tuesday, November 5, 2024, General Election

If you register or update your information after the deadline, the change will apply for the next election.

How do I know if I am registered to vote?

Click here to enter your name and county to check your voter registration and/or find your voting precinct and polling location.

If you can’t locate your voter registration information, but believe you are registered to vote, it is recommended that you search again making sure all information provided is accurate.

Tips for finding your information in the system:

  • Are you registered to vote?
  • Could you be registered with a derivative of your first name, ex. Bob or Robert?
  • Could you be registered with a former last name?
  • Could you be registered at a previous address in another Ohio county?

Contact your county board of elections regarding any questions on your voter registration. Follow this link for a full listing of Boards of Elections.

If you can’t locate your voter registration information but think you are registered to vote and you have not moved outside of your county of prior registration, you may be eligible to cast a provisional ballot at your county Board of Elections, or on Election Day at your polling place for your current address that may be counted.

How do I register to vote?

You are qualified to register to vote in Ohio if you meet all the following requirements:

  1. You are a citizen of the United States.
  2. You will be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the general election.
  3. You will be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election in which you want to vote.
  4. You are not incarcerated (in jail or in prison) for a felony conviction.
  5. You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court.
  6. You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violations of election laws. 

You may register to vote online, in person, or by mail.

ONLINE

To register online you will need to provide the following:

  • Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number
  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Address
  • Last four digits of your Social Security number

If you do not have any portion of the required information, follow this link to update your voting address using our paper form (PDF). Once you complete this form, you must sign and send it to your county board of elections.

If you are a Safe at Home participant, before you proceed, please follow this link to contact the Safe at Home office.

Click here to register to vote, change your address, or update your registration information online.

BY MAIL

Access Ohio’s Voter Registration form by clicking here. You may also use the National Mail Voter Registration form available here.

You can also ask your county board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office to mail a voter registration form to you.

IN PERSON

You may obtain a voter registration form and register to vote in person at any of the following locations:

  • The office of the Secretary of State;
  • The office of any of the 88 county boards of elections;
  • The office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles;
  • Public libraries;
  • Public high schools or vocational schools;
  • County treasurers’ offices; or
  • Offices of designated agencies, including: The Department of Job and Family Services; The Department of Mental Health; The Department of Health (including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program); The Department of Developmental Disabilities; Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities; or The office of any state-assisted college or university responsible for assisting students with disabilities.

When you have completed your voter registration form, please review it carefully for completeness and accuracy. You may either personally deliver, or send by US MAIL, your voter registration form to a county Board of Elections or the Secretary of State’s office. You, or another person acting on your behalf, also may deliver your application to one of the offices listed above, but you should ensure your application reaches the office of a board of elections or the Secretary of State no later than the voter registration deadline, the 30th day before the election at which you want to vote.

I've moved. How do I update my voter registration information?

To update your voter registration information online you will need to provide the following:

  1. Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number
  2. Name
  3. Date of Birth
  4. Address
  5. Last four digits of your Social Security number

If you do not have any portion of the required information, follow this link to update your voting address using the paper form (PDF). Once you complete this form, you must sign and send it to your county board of elections.

If you are a Safe at Home participant, before you proceed, please follow this link to contact the Safe at Home office.

Click here to register to vote, change your address, or update your registration information online.

Can I get a sample ballot?

Yes.  Click here and then click on your county to view your sample ballot.

Where do I go to vote?

On Election Day, if you do not know where your designated precinct or polling place is located, please contact your county board of elections or click here to search for your polling place online.

What form of identification do I need to bring to the polls?

According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, the forms of photo identification that may be used by a voter who appears at a polling place to vote on Election Day 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 expiration date that has not passed;
  • A photograph of the voter;
  • 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

NOTICE: 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.

When do the polls open and close on Election Day?

The polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

I have an absentee ballot, but I haven’t sent it back. What should I do with it?

  • Return your absentee ballot in person before the close of polls (7:30 p.m.) on Election Day to your county board of elections
  • Drop it in the mail (make sure it is postmarked no later than the day before the election).
  • Go to your polling location and vote by provisional ballot.