How to vote in Ohio
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 30 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): 30 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): N/A
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 1 day before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Ohio voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 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 site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
In order to register to vote in Ohio, you must meet these requirements:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be 18 years old by the next General Election
- be a resident of Ohio for the 30 days before Election Day
- not be incarcerated for a felony conviction (if you have been convicted of violating Ohio's election laws three or more times, you must receive a pardon in order to be eligible to vote)
- not have been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court.
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 site.
- 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.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- 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.
- 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.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- 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.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 30 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Ohio driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Ohio address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Voting rights are restored automatically upon release from prison. You can register to vote unless you have multiple convictions for violating Ohio election laws.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Ohio absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered Ohio voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Ohio does not allow you to request your ballot online.
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 do not have either number, you must include a photocopy of a different form of current photo identification. Acceptable forms of ID (must not be expired):
- 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
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
The copy of the photo ID must include images of the front and back, except for a passport which must include the passport's identification page.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 7 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by 1 day before Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- 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 do not have either number, you must include a photocopy of a different form of current photo identification. Acceptable forms of ID (must not be expired):
- 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
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
The copy of the photo ID must include images of the front and back, except for a passport which must include the passport's identification page.
- ID required when returning 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 identification envelope. If you do not have either number, you must include a photocopy of a different form of current photo identification. Acceptable forms of ID (must not be expired):
- 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
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
The copy of the photo ID must include images of the front and back, except for a passport which must include the passport's identification page.
Track your ballot here: Ohio absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 4th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
- You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if you or your minor child are hospitalized as a result of an accident or a medical emergency occurring before Election Day.
- The application must be in writing and delivered to the board of elections no later than 3PM Election Day.
- The application must include the name of the hospital, the hospitalization date, and the offices you are qualified to vote for.
- You may have a family member retrieve the ballot for you, otherwise the board will arrange for a ballot to be delivered to the hospital for you.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 3PM Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Ohio early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 28 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
You must show ID to vote at the polls. Acceptable forms of ID (must not be expired):
- 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
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
If you do not have an acceptable form of ID, you can still vote using a provisional ballot.
Ohio voter ID guide
You must show ID to vote at the polls. Acceptable forms of ID (must not be expired):
- 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
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
If you do not have an acceptable form of ID, you can still vote using a provisional 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 do not have either number, you must include a photocopy of a different form of current photo identification. Acceptable forms of ID (must not be expired):
- 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
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
The copy of the photo ID must include images of the front and back, except for a passport which must include the passport's identification page.
You must provide your Ohio driver's license number or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your identification envelope. If you do not have either number, you must include a photocopy of a different form of current photo identification. Acceptable forms of ID (must not be expired):
- 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
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
The copy of the photo ID must include images of the front and back, except for a passport which must include the passport's identification page.
You can register to vote online if you have an Ohio driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Ohio elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State of Ohio Elections Division 180 E. Broad Street - 15th Floor Columbus, OH 43215