Ohio

The basics

REGISTER to vote before October 7 with last 4 numbers of social security number. 

VOTE

  • WITH PASSPORT
    • early or on election day with your passport
  • WITHOUT PASSPORT
    •  by mail
  • At college in another state
    • REGISTER online with home Ohio address
    • VOTE by mail
  • At college in Ohio
    • REGISTER online and update your voter registration address 
    • Vote early or on election day with your Ohio ID 
  • October 7
    • deadline to register
  • October 8
    • early voting begins
  • October 29
    • deadline to request vote by mail ballot
  • November 5
    • Election Day

Ohio has strict voter ID laws that create an extra hurdle for college students who want to vote there if they do not have an OHIO drivers license or OHIO official state ID. But it is still possible to vote with your Ohio college address as residence. The law says you can register in Ohio if you have lived there 30 days prior to election, which will be the case for most college students.

You can REGISTER with  the last 4 digits of your social security number

You can VOTE BY MAIL with the last 4 digits of your social security number

You can VOTE at your polling place with a passport (Or some other types of ID listed here. NOT an out of state license or student ID)

Without proper ID, you may be given a provisional ballot but it may be rejected : https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/08/ohio-elections-officials-voter-advocates-concerned-by-increase-in-ballot-rejections-following-new-voter-id-rule.html

Register by October 7

Most campuses should have some kind of in person registration drive where you can fill out the form

VOTE

Submit request for absentee ballot at least 7 days before election day. Must be received by election board by 8:30 pm on October 29. But give your self time to fill it out and get it back in time.

You are entitled to vote by absentee ballot in Ohio without providing a reason

Early voting begins October 8th. Find your early voting place here https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/early-voting/

Vote at your local polling place with you passport for ID. 

Find polling place here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location/