More information: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/voter-eligibility-residency-reqs/#register
To use the online voter registration system you must have a current Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number, name, date of birth, address, and last four digits of your Social Security Number.
Online registration form (in English and Spanish): https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/
Printable form: https://www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/elections/forms/vr_form_04-2015.pdf
Refer to the box below for information about ID requirements.
Choosing a political party:
No. Under Ohio election law, you declare your political party affiliation by requesting the ballot of a political party in a partisan primary election.
If you do not desire to affiliate with a political party in Ohio, you are considered to be an unaffiliated voter. An unaffiliated voter does not vote the ballot of a political party in a primary election. However, an unaffiliated voter may vote the Official Questions & Issues Ballot, if there is one for the voter's precinct at the election.
To update registration after a move, name change, use the voter registration form.
County Boards of Elections Directory: Each of Ohio’s 88 counties has a Board of Elections (BOE) office that is responsible for administering local elections. For addresses and contact information see https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-officials/county-boards-of-elections-directory/
To cancel your Ohio registration complete the voter registration cancellation form and mail it to your county board of elections https://www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/elections/forms/10-a.pdf
For online voter registration, an Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number is required.
Link to online registration form https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/
You must provide a copy of one of the documents listed on the form to verify residence:
Link to mail-in Registration form https://www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/elections/forms/vr_form_04-2015.pdf
If you cannot meet any of the above requirements, you may cast a provisional ballot subject to verification of your eligibility to vote https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/provisional-voting/#gref
“Ohio law requires that every voter, upon appearing at the polling place to vote on Election Day, must announce his or her full name and current address and provide proof of identity."
The forms of identification that may be used by a voter who appears at a polling place to vote on Election Day include
For utility bills, bank statements, government checks, paychecks, and other government documents, “current” is defined as within the last 12 months. “Utility bill” includes a cell phone bill.
Provisional ballots: If you do not have any of the above forms of identification you may provide either your Ohio driver’s license or state identification number (which begins with two letters followed by six numbers) or the last four digits of your Social Security number and cast a provisional ballot. Once the information is reviewed and verified by the board of elections, your ballot will be counted.
If you do not provide one of the above documents or your driver’s license/state identification number or the last four digits of your Social Security number at the precinct, you will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. However, in order for that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than seven days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification.”
More information: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/id-requirements/#gref
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Obtaining a Driver’s License
In order to apply for and receive an absentee ballot, you must meet one of the following requirements:
Application for Absentee Ballot (English or Spanish): https://www.sos.state.oh.us/publications/#abr
Many organizations offer free rides to polling places. Some of these include:
Where to get more info on candidates
Referenda
Sample ballots
1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español)
1-888-API-VOTE (Asian multilingual assistance)
Find useful voter information including:
Librarians from the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), a Round Table of the American Library Association (ALA), created these reference guides. These guides are intended for informational purposes only and are not in any way intended to be legal advice.