Ohio Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s Ohio Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Ohio voting rules and options. It focuses on Ohio-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Ohio voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Ohio voting tools. It's an all-in-one Ohio voting resource.
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- by mail
- in person at your elections office
- on-line
- at Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- at public assistance agencies
- at public schools and colleges
- at public libraries
You must have resided in Ohio at least 30 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote.
Election Day Voting
Polling places are open from 6:30am to 7:30pm on Election Day.
Find my polling place
Early Voting
Any voter may choose to vote prior to Election Day by requesting and voting by absentee ballot at your county board of elections office or designated voting center.
For specific information including times and locations for early in-person absentee voting, contact the local board of elections.
Absentee Voting
Ohio allows any registered voter to request an absentee ballot and vote by mail. The voter or the voter's family member may return the ballot.
You will now need to add postage to your envelope if you return your completed ballot by mail. One secure voter drop box will be available in each county if you'd like to drop your ballot off without adding postage.
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in Ohio if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- at 17 years of age provided you will be 18 by the next general election.
- Have been a state resident for at least 30 days prior to the election
You are NOT eligible to vote in Ohio if:
- You have been permanently disenfranchised for violating the election laws
- You are incarcerated (in prison or jail) for a felony conviction under the laws of this state, another state, or the United States
- You were disqualified from voting due to a court order
Restorative Requirements
- If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.
You are able to pre-register:
- if you will be 18 by Election Day
If you will be 18 on or before the general election, you may vote in the primary election to nominate candidates, but you cannot vote on issues or party central committees until you are 18
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Ohio if:
- Ohio does not accept student ID; refer to Ohio Identification Requirements section
- You reside in Ohio but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in Ohio
Identification Requirements
Voter Registration
To register to vote in Ohio you should provide one of the following:
- Your Ohio Driver's License Number
- Your Ohio ID Number
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
Voting In-Person
In Ohio, you need to show a current, valid ID to vote. Your ID must include your name (which must substantially conform to your name as it appears in the poll list), photo, address, and expiration date that has not passed. You may use ID from this list:
- Valid Ohio Driver's License
- Ohio ID Card
- ID Issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Valid US Passport
- Valid Military ID
- Any Valid ID Issued by US Department of Veterans Affairs
If you are 17 or older, you are eligible to get a free state ID to use for voting. County issued veteran IDs and student IDs will no longer be accepted.
A voter who is completing an absentee ballot application or an identification envelope must provide one of the following forms of ID:
- Valid Ohio Driver's License
- Ohio ID Card
- ID Issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Valid Military ID
- Valid US Passport
- Your Ohio Driver's License Number
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Can I View my Sample Ballot?
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Am I Registered?
Military Voter Information
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Vote in Honor of a Veteran
Overseas Voter Information
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
State Voter Registration FAQ
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
Voting Overseas
U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voting Military
Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |