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AARP AARP States Ohio Voters

How to Vote in Ohio's 2024 Elections

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Important dates and election information

Voters Across The Country Head To The Polls For The Midterm Elections
Voters cast ballots at a polling place in Kent.
Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Key dates

  • Primary election: Tuesday, March 19
  • General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5

Voting at a glance

  • Absentee voting: Any registered voter in Ohio can request an absentee ballot without a reason.
  • Early voting: Voters can cast a ballot before Election Day at their county board of elections office from Wednesday, Feb. 21, through Sunday, March 17. Check the location and times of early in-person voting with your county board of elections.
  • Voting at the polls: Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Bring a valid form of photo ID, such as your Ohio driver’s license or U.S. passport.

How to vote in Ohio

What to know about recent changes

Laws that took effect in 2023 may change how you vote in the 2024 elections:

  • Voters must show a valid photo ID, such as an Ohio driver’s license or U.S. passport, when voting at the polls. Other documents, such as a paycheck, utility bill or Social Security card, are no longer considered valid. If you do not have a valid photo ID, you can obtain a free state ID card at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles deputy registrar license agency. More information is available at the BMV website. 
  • The deadline to request an absentee ballot is seven days before an election. Previously, it was three days. 
  • Your county board of elections must receive your absentee ballot by mail no later than four days after an election. But your absentee ballot still must be postmarked by the day before an election. 
  • Early in-person voting is no longer offered on the Monday before Election Day.

Redistricting has changed the boundaries of some U.S. congressional and state legislative districts and may affect which candidates appear on your ballot. Locate your district on the state elections website, where you can find the latest congressional and state legislative maps.

Voter registration

Register online, by mail or in person.

  • Online: Use the state’s voter registration portal to register, check the status of your application or update your registration. You’ll need your current Ohio driver’s license or identification card number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. You may also register or update your personal information while applying for or renewing your Ohio driver’s license. Register online by Tuesday, Feb. 20.
  • By mail: Download and print a voter registration form from the state elections website. Or call the Ohio secretary of state’s office toll-free at 877-767-6446, extension 1, to request a form. Include either your current Ohio driver’s license number, state identification card number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Then mail your completed form to your county board of elections. It must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, Feb. 20.
  • In person: Registration forms are available for pickup at the secretary of state’s office, your county board of elections office, an Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles office and several other state-designated agencies listed on the secretary of state’s website. Deliver your completed form to your county board of elections by Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Primary voting and party affiliation

Voters must choose either a Democratic, Republican or No Party ballot. If you choose a No Party ballot, you may only vote on issues in your precinct.

Ways to vote

Requesting an absentee ballot 

Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot by mail or by phone without providing a reason.

  • By mail: Download and print an absentee ballot application from the state elections website. Include either your driver’s license number, your state identification number, the last four digits of your Social Security number or a copy of your photo ID. Mail your completed application to your county board of elections.

Your board of elections office must receive your completed application, whether by mail or in person, by close of business on Tuesday, March 12.
Voters who are hospitalized due to a medical emergency may apply for an absentee ballot until 3 p.m. on Election Day using a separate absentee ballot application. If needed, you can request that your county elections officials deliver your ballot to the hospital.

Returning an absentee ballot

Return your absentee ballot by mail or in person.

  • By mail: Mail your completed ballot to your county board of elections. It must be postmarked by Monday, March 18, and received no later than Saturday, March 23.
  • In person: Return your absentee ballot to your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, March 19). One ballot drop box also will be available outside of your county board of elections office.

Track the status of your absentee ballot at the state elections website.

Voting in person before Election Day

You can vote early and in person at your county board of elections office from Wednesday, Feb. 21, through Sunday, March 17. More information will become available at the state elections website closer to the primary election.

Voting at the polls on Election Day

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, for the primary. As long as you’re in line before the polls close, you may cast a ballot. Find your polling location at the state elections website.

Voter ID requirements on Election Day

Bring a valid photo ID, such as an Ohio driver’s license, U.S. passport or U.S. military identification card. A paycheck, utility bill, Social Security card, birth certificate and some other government documents are no longer considered valid under a 2023 law.

Voting with a disability 

All polling places in Ohio are required to be accessible to voters with disabilities.

If you need assistance marking your ballot because of a disability, two precinct election officials — one from each major political party — may help you. Or you can bring someone to assist you, as long as they aren’t your employer, an agent of your employer or union, or a candidate.

You may vote curbside if you’re unable to enter your polling place. A ballot will be brought to you, so you can vote from your car or at the voting site’s door.

More resources for voters with disabilities are available at the state elections website.

More information about candidates

Key races

  • U.S. President
  • U.S. House: All 15 seats
  • U.S. Senate: One seat
  • State House: 99 seats
  • State Senate: 16 seats

Find your sample ballot at the state’s website.

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Dec. 11, 2023, with new information about voting in the 2024 presidential primary.

Elissa Chudwin covers federal and state policy and writes the podcast  Today’s Tips from AARP. She previously worked as a digital producer for The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, California, and as an editor for Advocate magazines in Dallas.

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