Register or update your record
Register or update your Ohio voter record by October 5. Boards of elections and the Secretary of State office remain open until 9 p.m. that day.
Official voter resources
Make your Ohio voting plan
Use Ohio's official voter services to register, confirm your record, find early-voting and Election Day locations, request an absentee ballot, review photo identification, and read State Issue 3.
First steps
Start with these three actions
Vote early in person
Early in-person voting begins October 6 at your county vote center and ends November 1 at 5 p.m. Hours vary by date, so check the official schedule before traveling.
Request and return an absentee ballot
A completed application must reach the county board by October 27 at 8:30 p.m. A domestic absentee ballot must reach the board by November 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Bring approved photo identification
For in-person voting, bring an unexpired approved photo ID. A voter without it may cast a provisional ballot and provide identification during the four-day cure period, or use the religious-objection affidavit if applicable.
October 5registration deadline
October 6early voting and absentee mailing begin
October 27 at 8:30 p.m.absentee application deadline
November 3 at 7:30 p.m.domestic ballot receipt deadline
Election timeline
Registration deadline
County boards of elections and the Secretary of State office remain open until 9 p.m. for the registration deadline.
Early in-person voting and absentee mailing begin
County early-voting centers open, and boards begin mailing absentee ballots to voters with approved applications.
Absentee application receipt deadline
The county board of elections must receive a completed absentee ballot application by 8:30 p.m.
Early in-person voting ends
The final scheduled early-voting period ends at 5 p.m.
General Election Day and domestic absentee receipt deadline
Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. A non-UOCAVA absentee ballot must reach the county board by 7:30 p.m.
UOCAVA mailed-ballot receipt deadline
An eligible uniformed-services or overseas ballot mailed by Election Day may be received through November 7 under the official schedule.
Check the current rule: A domestic absentee ballot must be received by the county board by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. The later November 7 deadline applies only to qualifying UOCAVA ballots mailed by Election Day. In-person voters must present an approved unexpired photo ID unless they use an applicable provisional-ballot or religious-objection process. Confirm county locations before traveling.
1 statewide constitutional amendment
Every Ohio voter will decide State Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment submitted by the General Assembly concerning photo identification for voting.
- State Issue 3: Require Voters to Present Photo Identification in Order to VoteA yes vote would add Section 5 to Article V of the Ohio Constitution. The amendment requires approved government-issued photo identification for in-person voting, directs the General Assembly to provide an alternative for voters with a religious objection, and permits absentee identity verification by photo ID or by signature plus a unique identifier. A no vote would reject the amendment.
2 statewide Supreme Court elections; no retention questions
All Ohio voters will elect two Supreme Court justices in separate partisan contests, with four printed candidates total. One full term begins January 1, 2027, and the other begins January 2, 2027. These are candidate elections, not judicial retention questions. Lower-court contests are excluded because they are not voted statewide.
Open the official statewide sample ballotLook up your complete sample ballot
The statewide sample ballot confirms statewide items, but district and local choices vary by address. Use the official county sample-ballot directory for your complete ballot.
Open the Ohio sample-ballot directoryOfficial voter links
Official voting scheduleRegistration, early-voting, absentee application, Election Day, and ballot-receipt dates and hours.Online voter registrationOfficial registration and October 5 deadline.Absentee ballot requestOfficial application and return guidance.Voter ID requirementsApproved photo IDs, provisional-ballot cure, and religious-objection process.Sample ballot directoryOfficial county sample-ballot links for district and local items.Official statewide sample ballotStatewide candidate contests and State Issue 3 text.
Dates checked October 1, 2026. Confirm them at the linked official source.