Thinking about voting early for the May primary election? Here’s what you need to know

Ohio’s Republican and Democratic voters will choose their candidates for this year’s November election soon.

The primary election is on May 5. Voters will pick nominees for governor, U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the Ohio legislature and the Ohio Supreme Court, as well as local elections. From here, the election environment is looking competitive this year, even though Ohio is a red-leaning state. 

There are primary elections for some third-party candidates, as well as some nonpartisan issues like ballot measures, too, depending on what’s on the ballot in the community where you live.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering voting early.

How can I check if I’m eligible to vote?

All Ohio U.S. citizens who will be age 18 or older by Nov. 3, 2026, are eligible to vote.

But you must be registered to vote in the May 5 election. The voter registration window is already closed, so if you haven’t registered yet, you’re out of luck.

You can check here to see if your registration is active. 

How do I get a mail ballot?

In Ohio, you have to fill out and submit a paper form to receive a mail ballot, which officially are called absentee ballots.

You can find an online application here, but you will have to print it and turn it in. If you don’t have a printer at home, locations that have them include public libraries and delivery stores like the UPS Store or FedEx.

The form requires you to provide some personal information, but does not require you to provide a copy of your photo ID – only your driver’s license / state ID number or the last four digits of your social security number.

Once you have your completed absentee ballot application form, you must turn it in to your local county board of elections office. Check here for a list of locations. You can either mail it in or hand deliver it to the elections office. 

One option is the secure ballot drop box outside the elections office. You can also walk in and hand your completed application to an election worker. 

When must I return my application?

The deadline is Tuesday, April 28. 

Are there any common mistakes people make?

There are several.

Voters must provide their date of birth when filling out the form. They sometimes incorrectly write in today’s date when they do that.

Some people also forget to mark the correct election date. For this election, voters must mark “May primary election” and fill out the month and year, May 2026.

Some people also forget to sign and date the form.

These kinds of mistakes can cause issues with your application. 

When will I get my mail ballot? 

Once your elections office processes your mail ballot application, it will mail a ballot to the address you provided. 

It will take some time for this to happen. Here is a state website with information about ballot tracking services, similar to package tracking from the postal service and companies like UPS, that county boards of election offer.

When do I have to return my mail ballot?

Your ballot must be returned to your local elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, May 5. Ballots that are late will not be counted, under a law Gov. MIke DeWine signed in December. So if you’re planning on mailing your ballot in, leave yourself plenty of time for it to get there.

Can I have someone else return my ballot?

Only in certain cases.

Ohio law allows “close relatives” to handle someone else’s ballot.

Here’s who counts as a “close relative”: spouse, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister, half-brother or half-sister, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece.

There’s an exception for voters with a disability, who are allowed to choose anyone as their designated ballot returner, except for their employer, the employer’s agent or a union officer/agent.

Someone who is returning an absentee ballot on behalf of someone else must fill out a form attesting they’re eligible to do so. This means they can’t use a ballot drop box – they must hand deliver a completed ballot inside the board of elections office.

When can I vote early and in person? 

Ohio offers 28 days of early in-person voting. For most of that, voters must travel to their county board of elections office during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

But there are seven early-voting days with extended in-person hours:

• On Sunday, May 3, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• On Monday, April 27, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• On Tuesday, April 28, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• From Wednesday, April 29 – Friday, May 1, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• On Saturday, May 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What do I need to bring with me?

Unlike mail voting, Ohio requires people voting in person to provide a photo ID. Acceptable options are:

• Driver’s license
• State photo ID
• A temporary ID issued by a BMV
• A passport or passport card
• A U.S. or state military ID

College IDs are not accepted.

What if I don’t want to vote early?

You have plenty of company. In the November 2024 election, most people – about 55% – voted on Election Day.

When will polls be open?

Polls are open on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

But what if I request a mail ballot and change my mind or forget to return it?

As long as you haven’t filled it out and returned it, you can still vote early and in person.

Those going to vote early and in person can bring their blank ballots with them. Elections workers are required to try to collect them for tracking purposes. But voters don’t have to bring them, under guidance issued by Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

You also can still vote in person on Election Day. But you’ll have to cast what’s called a provisional ballot, which means your vote won’t be counted for days while election workers verify you aren’t trying to vote twice.