How to vote in Ohio

• Register to vote (online): 30 days before Election Day
• Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 30 days before Election Day
• Register to vote (in person): 30 days before Election Day

• If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Ohio registration using the Ohio voter registration lookup tool.
• If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.

• You can register to vote online if you have an Ohio driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
• Visit the Ohio online voter registration tool.
• Fill out all the required fields.
• You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
• You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
• The deadline to register to vote online is 30 days before Election Day.

1. Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
2. Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Ohio driver’s license number. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don’t have either number, write "NONE" in this space.
3. Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a party in order to take part in that party’s primary election. Party affiliation is established by voting at a primary election.
4. Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
5. Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
6. Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
7. Your voter registration form must be postmarked 30 days before Election Day

1. Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
2. N/A

Ohio does not have same day registration.

• Earliest day to apply: January 1
• Request deadline (online): N/A
• Request deadline (by mail): Received 3 days before Election Day
• Request deadline (in person): 4 days before Election Day
• Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked 1 day BEFORE Election Day
• Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day

Ohio does not allow you to request your ballot online.

1. Download the Ohio absentee ballot application.
2. Fill out all of the required fields.
3. Print the application.
4. Sign and date your application. This is very important.
5. Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
6. If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
7. The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 3 days before Election Day.

1. Visit your local election office.
2. Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
3. Fill out all of the required fields.
4. Sign and date your application.
5. The deadline to apply in person is: 4 days before Election Day.

1. Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
2. Sign and date the outside envelope.
3. Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
4. If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked 1 day BEFORE Election Day.
5. If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
6. If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.

• ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: You must provide your Ohio driver's license number or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your absentee ballot application. If you don't have either number, then you'll need to include a photocopy of an official document that shows your name and address, such as a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or any government document that shows your name and current address. The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
• ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: You must include your driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number on your identification envelope. If you can not provide your driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number , you may also shall include a copy of your current photo identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.

• Early voting starts: 28 days before Election Day
• Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day