2023 Election: What to know about voter registration, early voting for Ohio general election

Kayla Bennett, Akron Beacon Journal
Updated ·2 min read
Oct. 10 is the deadline to register to vote in Ohio.
Oct. 10 is the deadline to register to vote in Ohio.

Tuesday, Oct. 10 is the deadline to register to vote in Ohio ahead of the Nov. 7 general election. Early voting begins Wednesday, Oct. 11.

Ohio voter registration lookup

To check your voter registration, go to voteohio.gov or call your county board of elections. You can also update your voter information or register to vote at the same website.

What's on the ballot in Ohio?

Ohio voters will decide on State Issue 1, a constitutional amendment on reproductive rights, and State Issue 2 which would legalize recreational marijuana.

More: What Ohioans need to know about November ballot issue on abortion

More: What Ohioans need to know about November ballot issue to legalize recreational marijuana

Voters in many communities will also have mayor, council, school board and township races on the ballot as well as local issues.

How to vote early by mail in Ohio

Absentee ballot applications must be received by boards of election by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Absentee ballots must be received by boards of election by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7. Ballots cannot be turned in at polling places on Election Day but can be returned to county board offices in person on Election Day.

Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 6 and received by Friday, Nov. 10 to be counted.

How to vote early in-person in Ohio

Absentee ballots can be cast in-person at local board of elections offices or the county's designated early voting center.

All locations have the same hours:

  • Oct. 11-13: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Oct. 16-20: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Oct. 23-27: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Oct. 30: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  • Oct. 31: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

  • Nov. 1-3: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  • Nov. 4: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Nov. 5: 1 to 5 p.m.

What is Ohio's new voter ID law

A new state law no longer allows voters to use utility bills and other documents as identification to receive a ballot.

Now, a photo ID is required for in-person voting, either on Election Day or during the early voting period at county boards of election. To cast a ballot by mail, voters can provide a copy of their photo ID, driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Free state IDs are available to residents at local Bureau of Motor Vehicles deputy registrar locations. More information can be found at bmv.ohio.gov.

What are the polling hours on Election Day?

Polls open Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

Kayla Bennett is a fellow in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism's Statehouse News Bureau.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What to know about voter registration, early voting for Ohio election