How To Vote

How to vote in Ohio

(in three easy steps)

Maureen O’Keefe | maureenokeefeart.com | Piqua, Ohio
Vote illustration by Molli Ross of Oddball Design Company

Molli Ross | IG @oddballdesign.co | Columbus, Ohio

1. Make sure you’re registered to vote

The voter registration deadline is October 5, 2026. You can register online, in-person or by mail. Your registration must be postmarked by October 5, 2026.

2: MAKE A VOTING PLAN

In Ohio, you can vote by mail or you can vote in-person early or on Election Day.

In Ohio voting by mail is a two-step process:

1. Fill out an absentee ballot application by October 27. But don’t wait, you can request an absentee ballot today.

2. Voters will then receive the absentee ballot in the mail. There is no need to have a state ID to vote by mail: you can vote by mail using the last 4 digits of their social security number as ID. Absentee voting by mail begins October 6. Absentee ballots must be received by your County Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on November 3. Track your ballot.

Voting in-person early takes place at your county early voting location. Early in-person voting begins October 6. Check the early voting schedule here.

To vote in-person, voters must bring a valid unexpired valid photo ID. On November 3, voting will take place at your polling location between 6:30 AM and 7:30 PM.

College students in Ohio must make sure they have the required ID to vote in-person, or they can opt to vote by mail (see above) using the last 4 digits of their Social Security number as ID. Out of state students opting to vote in Ohio would enter their Ohio address on the voter registration form.

See what’s on your ballot.

Your Vote Matters illustration by Danielle Kukic of Dragon Rise Studio.

Danielle Kukic | IG @dragonrisestudio | Cincinnati, Ohio

Disrupt flag print by Micah Kraus

Micah Kraus | genuine-article.co | Akron, Ohio

3: GO VOTE YOUR HEART OUT, OHIO!

early voting begins 0ctober 6. eLECTION dAY IS nOVEMBER 3, 2026

Important information to get ready to vote

We’ve got you covered

Contacting your representatives is easy and important.

An ID is required to vote in Ohio. Check out this simple guide to what can count as a voter ID in Ohio from headcount.org.

In person voting is November 5, 2024, and polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Have more voting questions?

Check out FAQs from Rock the Vote.

Rock the Vote is the most trusted and effective 501c3 nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to building the political power of young people.