The basics
I am at college in Ohio, don't have Ohio ID
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
I am from Ohio, at college away from home
- 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
Important dates
- 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
Register at campus event
Most campuses should have some kind of in person registration drive where you can fill out the form
Register by mail
- Print out registration form and mail it to your county board of elections, postmarked by October 7
- Form is here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/elections/forms/vr_form_04-2015.pdf
- Find your board of elections address at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-officials/county-boards-of-elections-directory/
Register online (ONLY if you have Ohio ID)
Go to olvr.ohiosos.gov
VOTE
By mail (submit request by October 29, but the earlier the better)
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
- Fill out request form using last 4 digits of social security number (OR Ohio ID, Or copy of passport or military ID)
- Form here https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-ballot/
- Print it out and mail it to board of elections.
- Find your board of elections address at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-officials/county-boards-of-elections-directory/
- Most campuses will have these forms available somewhere to fill out
- When you receive mail in ballot fill it out and mail it back. Must be postmarked by no later than the day before election (November 4th) to be counted. You can also bring it in person to board of elections before close of polls on election day.
Early, in person, with passport or Ohio ID
Early voting begins October 8th. Find your early voting place here https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/early-voting/
On election day, with passport or Ohio ID
Vote at your local polling place with you passport for ID.
Find polling place here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location/