Election Day is Tuesday.
In the May 5 primary election, voters who are members of political parties will choose their candidates for the general election in November.
Ohio’s marquee races include statewide contests for governor, U.S. Senate, executive row offices like attorney general and secretary of state, and Ohio Supreme Court.
Voters also will choose U.S. House and state legislative candidates to represent the political districts where they live.
When are polls open in Ohio?
And depending on where you live, there also could be nonpartisan ballot issues and other races to vote on – so the election is not just for those pulling a Republican, Democratic or, in some races, a Libertarian ballot.
Here’s what you need to know to vote on Election Day.
Polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where do I vote?
Click here to check your voter registration status, including your voting precinct location, via a website created by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.
What do I need to bring with me?
Ohio requires voters to provide a photo ID to vote in person.
Acceptable forms of ID 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.
🗳️Have a question about Ohio’s elections?
Ask us — we may dig up the answer through our reporting.
What if I don’t have an ID?
You’ll have to cast what’s called a provisional ballot, a kind of voting done if there are questions about a voter’s registration or eligibility.
Provisional ballots get extra security from election workers to make sure someone isn’t trying to vote twice, or trying to cast a ballot without being registered.
For these votes to count, a voter will have to go to their local Board of Elections with an acceptable form of ID within four days after Election Day.
If a voter can’t provide a photo ID within this period, their provisional ballot won’t count.
I’ve requested or filled out an Ohio absentee ballot. Is it too late to return it?
Absentee ballots must be turned in to your local Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Options include delivering it inside the elections office, or the secure dropbox outside. You are not allowed to turn it in at your polling place – if you try to do that, election workers are supposed to refuse them.
Also, Ohio used to count mail ballots if they arrived within four days after Election Day, as long as they were postmarked by the Monday before the election. But Gov. Mike DeWine signed a law in December eliminating that grace period.
So again, the ballot must arrive by 7:30 p.m. Election Day, or it won’t count.
My absentee ballot never arrived. What can I do?
Go to your polling place on Election Day. Poll workers will be able to tell you’ve requested an outstanding absentee ballot, and should allow you to cast a provisional ballot.
With provisional ballots, elections workers in these scenarios spend extra time to make sure someone isn’t trying to vote twice. Once that happens, your provisional ballot will be counted, assuming election workers verify your eligibility, although not for some days after Election Day.
