Where do I vote? What kind of ID do I need? Last minute Ohio election questions answered

Haley BeMiller, Emily Mills and Lily Carey, Akron Beacon Journal
Updated ·4 min read
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Ohio is holding an uncommon election this month 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.

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.

What to know about Issue 1: Everything to know about Ohio Issue 1 and the August special election

Here's what you need to know about where to vote and what you'll need in order to cast your ballot.

Where is my polling place?

Summit County previously had 420 precincts. It now has 371, with the board of elections adopting the new precinct boundary maps in December. According to the board of elections, precincts were realigned due to multiple city ward and County Council boundary changes for the 2023 and 2024 elections. More people are also voting absentee in recent elections.

To find your polling location, visit lookup.boe.ohio.gov/vtrapp/summit/pollfinder.aspx. To look up your voter information, visit lookup.boe.ohio.gov/vtrapp/summit/vtrlookup.aspx.

What kind of photo ID do I need?

A new law that went into effect at the end of April requires voters must now present a photo ID when they cast ballots in-person, either during early voting or on Election Day. That can be an Ohio driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, passport card, military ID or interim identification issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The ID does not need to have your current address on it.

County-issued veteran IDs do not qualify.

Voter voices: From Akron to Columbus: What Ohio voters think about Issue 1

To vote by mail, Ohioans need to provide a copy of their photo ID, driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

The new law also allows Ohioans 17 and older to receive a free state ID card. Voters who have religious objections to being photographed can cast a provisional ballot that excludes them from the ID requirement.

Another part of the new law requires the BMV to place "noncitizen" labels on the driver's licenses and state IDs of those who lack citizenship, but are in the country legally.

Tuesday is the deadline for mail-in ballot requests for Aug. 8 election

To request an absentee ballot, voters must fill out an application, which is available on the Secretary of State website, and return it to their county board of elections. Applications for absentee ballots must be received no later than seven days before an election, so anyone who needs a ballot must request it Tuesday and should return it in-person Tuesday at their county board of elections office. You can track the status of your absentee ballot request using the Secretary of State's Voter Toolkit.

Once the application is received, the county board of elections will mail your absentee ballot to you. Voters can then fill out their ballot from home.

Final week of early voting for the Ohio special election

With the Aug. 8 election just around the corner next Tuesday, this is also the last week to vote early in-person at your county board of elections.

Here are the early voting hours this week:

  • Aug. 1: 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

  • Aug. 2-4: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

  • Aug. 5: a.m. - 4 p.m.

  • Aug. 6: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Early voting has been extremely popular so far this summer, with over 115,000 early in-person votes cast last week. August elections are very unusual in Ohio, and turnout is typically low since many voters may be preoccupied with summer activities, driving many to vote early.

Boards of elections are open all weekend, but will be closed on Monday, Aug. 7, so voters are encouraged to plan ahead and make sure they beat the crowds.

What to know about Issue 1 in Ohio

The only thing on the Aug. 8 ballot is Issue 1. If passed, the measure would make it more difficult to amend the state constitution, requiring 60% approval for amendments instead of the current simple majority.

Issue 1 would also require citizen groups to collect signatures on petitions for constitutional amendments from at least 5% of voters from the last gubernatorial election in all 88 counties, instead of 44. (The current rule uses the 5% mark, as well.)

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Issue 1 special election in Ohio: Where do I vote? What ID do I need?