2024 OHIO VOTER GUIDE
1.Voter Registration
Deadline to Register/Update: October 7, 2024
2. Check Your Registration
Why check your registration? Your address is where election officials send notices, application forms to receive your ballot in the mail, and more. Additionally, poll workers will check if the address on your voter registration matches the address on your ID at the polls.
Check Your Registration Online
Update Your Registration Online
Checklist:
- Is your name spelled correctly? (Correct hyphenations, middle initials, etc)
- Correct Address
- Active Voter Status (if not update by sending in another online/mail voter application)
- Correct Date of Birth
- Correct Political Party Preference
- Take a time-stamped photograph or screenshot of your registration, and take it with you to the polls as proof of your registration.
3. Voter ID Law
Source: Ballotpedia
Ohio requires voters to present photo identification while voting.
The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Ohio Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- 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.
4. Order Your Absentee Mail Ballot
Deadline to apply for Absentee Mail Ballot: Must be received by 5:00 PM on October 29, 2024
We recommend requesting your absentee mail ballot as soon as possible and well in advance of this deadline in order to ensure that you receive your ballot in time.
Request Absentee Mail Ballot Online
Contact your county Board of elections to find out mail ballot drop-off locations in your local county: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-officials/county-boards-of-elections-directory/
Deadline to return Absentee Mail Ballot: Must be postmarked by November 4, 2024 or returned in person by 7:30 PM on November 5, 2024
Surrendering Your Absentee Ballot:
Ohio does not have the Surrender Rule. If you are signed up for an absentee ballot in Ohio, there is a marking in the poll book indicating you are an absentee voter. If an absentee voter shows up to vote in-person on Election Day, they will be given a provisional ballot. No exceptions.
- Source:
https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/BOEL-website/media/Documents/Poll-Workers/Training-Manual.pdf
Absentee voters are required to vote provisionally if they show up at a polling place on Election Day. No Absentee ballots are accepted at the polling location. The voter must return the absentee ballot to the County Board of Elections office before 7:30pm on Election Day or vote provisionally at their Voting Location. No Exceptions!
If a voter is marked ABSENTEE or PROVISIONAL on the Electronic Poll Book then they will be required to vote provisionally.
5. Early Voting Information
In-person early voting is available starting on October 8, 2024. Registered voters may cast an early in-person ballot at their county board of elections or designated early voting locations.
- For a map and list of early voting locations by county, click here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/early-voting/
For more information regarding federal, state and local elections contact the Ohio Secretary of State’s Elections Division by phone 614.466.2585.
6. Become a Poll Worker!
Poll workers must be 17 years old or over, and a registered voter in their county.
To sign-up, visit: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/precinct-election-officials/peosignup/