You have the right to vote and are encouraged to exercise this right. To vote in Ohio, you must register. You must register at least 30 days before Election Day. This article will explain whether you are eligible to vote and how to register to vote in Ohio. Some deadlines may be different if you are overseas or in the military. For more information, see Ohio Military Votes from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.
Eligibility Requirements to Vote in Ohio:
You are eligible to vote in Ohio if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen;
- Are 18 years old or older, or will be 18 by Election Day;
- Have resided in Ohio for at least 30 days before Election Day;
- Are not currently in jail or prison for a felony conviction; and
- Have not been declared incompetent to vote by a court through a specific finding by a judge. A general finding of incompetence and guardianship does not remove the right to vote. The finding must state that a person is incompetent to vote. Otherwise, the person may vote.
How to Register to Vote:
You can get a registration form from:
- The Ohio Secretary of State’s office;
- Your county board of elections;
- A public high school or vocational school;
- Any deputy registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles;
- A public library;
- The county treasurer’s office;
- The offices of designated agencies, including the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Mental Health, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, or the office of any state-assisted college or university that is responsible for providing support services to students with disabilities.
You can also register by mail. Your registration application must be postmarked 30 days before Election Day. You can print a voter registration application online from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website: Voter Registration Form. You can also have someone else deliver your completed form in person to the county board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office on your behalf, but that person must do so within the earlier of:
- Within 10 days after you complete the registration form, or
- Before the voter registration deadline.
If you need assistance registering, you can request assistance from your case manager, social worker, advocate, or other human services personnel.
You can register to vote online at the Ohio Secretary of State’s website: https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/. The deadlines above still apply.
Information Needed for the Application:
If you are registering in person, you must provide:
- Your name, address, the county you live in, and your date of birth.
- Your signature or legal mark. Your legal mark can be made by using an assistive or mechanical device.
- Your Ohio driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have a Driver’s License or Social Security Number, bring an alternative document with your name and address: a current valid photo identification card, military identification card, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document. These documents will be accepted as proof of identification for voter registration.
If you are registering by mail and do not have a Driver’s License or Social Security Number, enclose a copy of one of the following documents with your name and address: a current valid photo identification card, military identification card, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document.
Registering to Vote Without a Home Address:
- You may provide the address of a shelter if you regularly use it.
- You may provide a different address, such as the address of a friend or relative, if you regularly stay there.
- The address you provide will be where the County Board of Elections will mail information to you.
After You Apply:
The county board of elections must register you to vote no later than 20 business days after receiving your application. The board must promptly send a notice to the address on your application informing you that:
- You are registered to vote,
- Where you will vote, and
- What identification you need to bring with you on Election Day.
If the board does not accept your voter registration application, they must promptly mail you a notice stating:
- The reason your application was rejected and
- Requesting you to provide information that the board needs to complete your application.
If you do not receive either notice, contact your county board of elections before Election Day and ask about your application.
Changing Your Information After You Register:
If you are registered to vote and have moved to a different location in Ohio or changed your name, you are responsible for updating this information by submitting a new voter registration form or a change of address form for your new residence. The voter registration form with your name and/or address change can be mailed to the Secretary of State’s office or the county board of elections, or delivered in person to one of the agencies listed above. It is best to file the form no later than 30 days before an election to ensure that you are able to vote regularly.
If You Have Trouble Registering to Vote:
If you think you are eligible to vote and are having trouble, call the Ohio Disability Rights Law & Policy Center at (Voice) 614-466-7264 or 1-800-282-9181; (TTY) 614-728-2553 or 1-800-858-3542.
