Summary
Federal & state elections on the ballot: US Senator, 16 US House members, Governor, and State Senate and House members
Ballot measures:
The Ohio Elections & Voting, part of the Secretary of State, oversees all Ohio elections.
OnAir Post: Ohio Votes in 2024
News
Politico, – February 4, 2022
The redistricting wars are shifting into a new arena: the courtroom.
Most states have finished their maps already, but state and federal courts will direct the drawing of some 75 congressional districts in at least seven states in the coming months, marking a new phase in the process before the first 2022 primaries begin. In the next few weeks alone, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania courts are likely to impose new maps blocking Republican legislators’ attempts to relegate Democrats to small slivers of those congressional delegations.
Taken together, the court interventions have eased Democratic fears about redistricting as they sweat over a tough midterm political environment. So far, the decisions have validated the party’s state-by-state legal strategy and, critically, offered a surprising reprieve from several Republican gerrymandering attempts before a single election could be held under the new lines.
On one hand, party leaders and strategists say there’s reason to be hopeful. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), their nominee to succeed retiring Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), is a prolific fundraiser with an adept ability to appeal to the state’s blue-collar voters.
Recent polling shows him virtually deadlocked with his Republican rival J.D. Vance, the author and venture capitalist who carries the endorsement of former President Trump.
But Democrats are also acutely aware of Ohio’s rightward shift in recent years. Trump carried the state twice, in 2016 and 2020, and aside from former President Obama and Sen. Sherrod Brown, no Democrat has won statewide in Ohio since 2006.
“I’m just not so sure it’s a swing state anymore,” one national Democratic strategist said. “It’s not a lost cause, by any means. Tim Ryan is a solid, solid candidate. But when you take a look at where to put resources, Ohio is a tough call.”
Columbus Dispatch, – May 4, 2022
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will face Democratic former Dayton mayor Nan Whaley in the November election.
DeWine defeated four Republican challengers in Tuesday’s election. Whaley easily defeated former Cincinnati mayor John Cranley for the Democratic nomination. Whaley’s victory made her the first woman ever nominated by a major party for Ohio governor.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Nan Whaley pivoted quickly to November, slamming Gov. Mike DeWine for leading a corrupt Ohio state government that bailed out nuclear plants and for not caring about average Ohioans.
Whaley faces an uphill battle to unseat the incumbent governor, but she isn’t conceding any votes even appealing to Republicans who backed former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and farmer Joe Blystone.
A spokesman for Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said the office didn’t want to get dragged in last week when a fellow Republican echoed former President Donald Trump’s baseless fraud claims and called for an audit of Ohio’s 2020 election.
But the state’s top election official won’t condemn Trump or say whether he’ll support the former president if he runs again in 2024. And despite his assertion that “it’s easy to vote and hard to cheat in Ohio,” LaRose wouldn’t comment on restrictions that forced large-county voters to wait hours to cast early ballots last year.
Former state Treasurer Josh Mandel is one of many Republicans eagerly trying to take up the Trump mantle in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, who is also a Republican.
WKSU, – August 24, 2021
A second bill to overhaul Ohio’s election system has been proposed by some Republican state lawmakers, and this one is stricter than one introduced a few months ago that was deemed controversial by voting rights advocates.
While some states that have seen major election overhaul bills proposed were red states that President Biden won, Ohio went to Donald Trump in 2020. But this bill takes aim at some of the biggest complaints that Republicans have had.
“It would eliminate drop boxes, drastically cut early voting, and put extreme limits on voting by mail,” said Jen Miller, the executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio.
Miller said House Bill 387 would eliminate secure ballot drop boxes at board of elections sites. It would cut the 28-day early voting period that’s been in place since 2014 to 13 days and then later to six days. It would bring back the requirement eliminated with the expansion of early voting to provide an excuse to ask for a mail in ballot, such as illness or extended travel. And it would ban the Secretary of State from mailing out absentee ballot applications in even year general elections, which has been happening since 2012.
About
Contact
Locations
Elections & Voting
Phone: 614.466.2585
Web Links
Registering to Vote
General Information
Who can register
In order to register to vote in Ohio, you must meet these requirements:
- be a citizen of the United States.
- be at least 18 years old on or before the next general election
- be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election in which you want to vote
- not be currently incarcerated (in jail or prison) for a felony conviction. If you are an ex-felon and not currently incarcerated, you are eligible to vote in Ohio but you MUST re-register.
- not have been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court
- not have been permanently denied the right to vote for violations of election laws
How to register
- Use our Register to Vote form below to fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Sign and date your form. This is very important!
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed form to the address we provide.
- Make sure you register before the voter registration deadline.
Election Day registration
N/A
Voting Rights restoration
If you have been convicted of a felony and have questions about whether you can register to vote, visit Restore Your Vote to determine your eligibility.
Registration Status (form)
New Registration (form)
Voting
General Information
Voting as a Student
Learn more from Campus Vote Project about voting for students.
Overseas and Military Voting
You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.
If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.
Voting with Disabilities
Ohio polling places should provide touch screen voting machines and have audio adaptations for assisting the blind. There are also adaptations for voters with lack of muscle control.
If you have a disability you may also have assistance by two election officials (of different political parties) or by the person of your choice (except employer or union agent). Poll workers are urged to accommodate voters with disabilities in any way they can.
If the polling place is not accessible for you, when possible you may vote curbside. In these cases, two poll workers will take a voting device to the you.
For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.
Early Voting
Early voting starts 28 days before the election. All registered voters may request and vote an absentee ballot in person at their county board of elections or voting center as designated by the county. For specific information on times and locations contact your board of elections.
Vote by Mail (Absentee)
Absentee ballot rules
Any registered Ohio voter may apply for an absentee ballot and vote absentee.
How to get Absentee ballot
- Use our Absentee Ballot form below to prepare your application.
- Sign and date the form. This is very important!
- Return your completed application to your Local Election Office as soon as possible. We’ll provide the mailing address for you.
- All Local Election Offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. If it’s close to the deadline, call and see if your Local Election Office will let you fax or email the application.
- Make sure your application is received by the deadline. Your application must actually arrive by this time — simply being postmarked by the deadline is insufficient.
- Please contact your Local Election Office if you have any further questions about the exact process.
What to do next
- Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
- Sign and date where indicated.
- Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.
- Your voted ballot must arrive by the deadline or it will not be counted.
Absentee ballot application deadline
- In Person: 1 day before election day.
- By Mail: Received by noon, 3 days before Election Day.
Absentee ballot submission deadline
- Postmarked 1 day before Election Day and received 10 days after Election Day.
Absentee Ballot (form)
Elections Alert (Form)
Pollling Information
Polling Place Locator
You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource. If you have further questions on your polling place location, please contact your county clerk.
Polling Place Hours
The polls will be open from 6:30 am – 7:30 pm.
Poll Worker Information
Visit www.workelections.com to find localized information for becoming a poll worker in your area.
In order to be a poll worker in Ohio, you must:
- Be registered to vote in the county in which you plan to work
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be a resident of the county and state for the 30 days prior to the election
- Complete required training
- Not have been convicted of a felony
- Cannot be running as a candidate for the election in which you are working
- Students 17 years old must be a country resident and enrolled in senior year of high school to be appointed
You will be entitled to compensation
To sign up, contact your local board of elections.
Ohio Elections & Voting
Secretary of State
Frank LaRose took office as Ohio’s 51st Secretary of State on January 14th, 2019. Prior to being elected to statewide office, he served two terms in the State Senate representing the 27th Senate District in northeast Ohio.
As Ohio’s Secretary of State, LaRose is doing his part to deliver a thriving democracy and a prosperous economy. In his role as Ohio’s chief elections officer, he’s working to ensure Ohio’s elections are secure, accurate and accessible. He is also supporting Ohio entrepreneurs as the sole authority to receive and approve articles of incorporation for Ohio businesses.
In the legislature, LaRose spearheaded efforts to increase government transparency and efficiency, particularly in the areas of elections administration and regulatory reform.
Among numerous recognitions, LaRose was named the Legislator of the Year in 2016 by the Ohio Association of Election Officials in recognition of his support and commitment to improving Ohio’s election process. He is currently serving a two-year term within the Aspen Institute as a Rodel Fellow – a bipartisan group of America’s rising political stars brought together to promote greater civil discourse. In May 2019, LaRose was presented the Business Champion Award by the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
LaRose developed his strong work ethic and sense of responsibility at a young age while working on a small family-owned farm in northeast Ohio. After graduating from Copley High School, LaRose fulfilled a lifelong dream by enlisting in the United States Army with the 101st Airborne, and ultimately served in the U.S. Special Forces as a Green Beret. During his decade in uniform around the globe, LaRose received numerous commendations and honors, including the Bronze Star.
LaRose continues to give back to his community since leaving the Army and entering public service. He is the Jr. Vice Commander of the Fairlawn VFW and, as an Eagle Scout himself, Frank now serves on the executive board for his local Boy Scouts of America Council.
LaRose, a native of northeast Ohio, graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Consumer Affairs and Business. He and his wife, Lauren, live in Upper Arlington with their three daughters.
