Know before you go: Election Day guide
(WJW) — The polls are closed in Ohio. In the 2024 election, Ohio voters are helping pick the next U.S. president, choosing their congressmembers and deciding whether or not to pass control over the state’s legislative redistricting process from a commission led by politicians to one appointed by the people.
Our guide explains what you need to know to vote.
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How can I vote in person?
Early voting is over. Under new state voting rules, Monday, Nov. 4, the day before Election Day, is no longer an early voting day.
On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, the polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
If you choose to go to the polls on Election Day, you can find your voting precinct and polling place using the list of county elections board offices below or the Secretary of State website.
What do I need to bring?
To vote in person, you need to bring a form of identification that includes:
A valid Ohio driver’s license, state ID or some interim form of ID issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
A U.S. military ID, National Guard ID or a U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs ID with your name and photo
A U.S. passport or passport card, which became acceptable in 2023
Ohio’s voter ID laws changed in 2023. Voters can no longer use a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, concealed carry permit or some other government document to verify their identity at the polls.
If your ID doesn’t have your current address, that’s OK as long as your voter registration has your current address.
If you don’t have an ID, you can still cast a provisional ballot. You’ll need to provide one of the acceptable forms of ID listed above to your local elections board office by Saturday, Nov. 9, which is four days after the election. Previously, Ohioans were allowed up to a week after the election to provide that information.
Starting in 2023, voters were no longer allowed to give the last four digits of their Social Security number when casting a provisional ballot, unless they do not have a photo ID for religious reasons. Once that information is verified, your provisional ballot will be counted.
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Where is my polling place?
Find your local elections office or polling place at the links below to county board of elections offices in Northeast Ohio:
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Can I still vote by mail?
The deadline to request an absentee ballot from your local board of elections office was 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Absentee ballots returned must have been postmarked by Monday, Nov. 4, the day before Election Day. They must be received by your local elections board office within four days after Election Day, in order to be counted. Previously, the deadline was 10 days after the election.
The Postal Service’s internal metrics show it swiftly handled ballots in the first three weeks of October. On average, it’s taken three days for the blank absentee ballots to reach voters’ mailboxes and about one day for the completed ballots to make it back to election officials. All but 0.1% of ballots heading to voters or back to election officials were delivered within a week.
After mailing, you can track your absentee ballot through your local elections board website.
You can still drop off your absentee ballot at your county board of elections office or in its drop box anytime until the polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
If you never received your absentee ballot, you should check in with your local board of elections office. You can find yours in the list above.
If you requested an absentee ballot but never mailed it back, you can still vote in person at your polling place on Election Day. But if you voted by mail, you’ll be unable to vote in person.
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Is it too late to register to vote in Ohio?
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 general election was Monday, Oct. 7. That deadline is usually 30 days before the election.
You can make sure you’re registered to vote and find your local polling place on the Ohio Secretary of State website.
Ohio’s voter registration rules changed in 2023. If you’re not already registered, you’ll need to provide an Ohio driver’s license or state ID number and the last four digits of your Social Security number in order to register with a paper form or to register online, along with your name, address and date of birth.
Still have questions?
Visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s website for a list of voter resources and frequently asked questions.
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