Oct. 10 is last day to register to vote in Ohio before November election

Kayla Bennett, Columbus Dispatch
Updated ·2 min read
Aug 8, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Voters cast their ballots during a special election for Issue 1 at the Schiller Recreation Center in German Village.
Aug 8, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Voters cast their ballots during a special election for Issue 1 at the Schiller Recreation Center in German Village.

This November, voters statewide will decide on reproductive rights and the legalization of marijuana. Many communities will also have local races and issues on the ballot.

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

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.

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 board offices in person on Election Day.

Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 6 and received by Monday, Nov. 13 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 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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.

When is the November election?

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.

Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Last day to register to vote is Oct 10. Here's how to vote early.