Want to vote in Ohio's August special election? Here are key dates to know

Haley BeMiller, Cincinnati Enquirer
Updated ·2 min read
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"Ohio Voted" stickers are lined up on a voting machine at Darbydale Elementary in Grove City on May 2.
"Ohio Voted" stickers are lined up on a voting machine at Darbydale Elementary in Grove City on May 2.

Ohio is holding an uncommon election this August over a proposal that would make it harder to amend the state constitution.

Voters will decide Aug. 8 whether the state should require 60% of voters to enact new constitutional amendments, instead of the current simple majority of 50% plus one. GOP lawmakers pushed for the election ahead of a potential November ballot question that would enshrine abortion rights in Ohio.

More: What to know about Ohio's new voter ID law

Statewide elections aren't often held in August, and turnout is typically low because Ohioans are preoccupied with summer activities. The last time Ohio voters considered a proposed constitutional amendment in August was 1926, according to the secretary of state's office.

Here are key dates to remember if you want to weigh in on the 60% threshold.

June 23

Military and overseas voting begins.

July 10

This is the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 8 election.

July 11

Early voting begins. The full early voting schedule for this election is:

  • July 11-14: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • July 17-21: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • July 24-28: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • July 31: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  • August 1: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

  • August 2-4: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  • August 5: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • August 6: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Reminder: Ohio's new election law eliminated early voting the Monday before Election Day and reallocated those hours to different days.

Aug. 1

Absentee ballot applications are due to your local board of elections by 8:30 p.m.

Aug. 7

Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by then.

Aug. 8

Polls are open on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you haven't mailed your completed absentee ballot, you can return it to your board of elections by 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 12

Absentee ballots that were postmarked on or before Aug. 7 must be returned to boards of elections by this day.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio special election August 2023: Key dates to know to vote