Labor Day signifies the official start of the election season. With Ohio’s 2020 Primary Election delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the confusion that caused, much attention has been placed on the process of voting in the General Election on or before November 3.
Register to Vote
October 5 is the last day to register to vote in the November election. Registration can be done online at VoteOhio.gov. To register, a person must be:
- A U.S. Citizen
- 18 years old on or before November 3, 2020
- An Ohio resident for 30 days prior to the election
- Not incarcerated (in jail or prison) for a felony
- You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court
- You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violations of election laws
Absentee Voting
Last week, Secretary of State Frank LaRose sent absentee ballot request forms to every registered voter in the state. In order to vote by mail, this ballot request must be filled out and returned to the county board of elections – either by mail or in the county drop box – by October 31. Those who complete the form will then be mailed an official ballot. Once the official ballot is received, the voter must complete it and return it to the county board of elections either by mail or in the county drop box. If the ballot is mailed, it must be postmarked by November 2. If the ballot is returned by the county drop box, it must be received by 7:30 p.m. on November 3. It is very important to know that if the voter requests a ballot by mail, this is how they must vote. Voters can track the ballot on the county board of elections website.
Early In-Person Voting
Early In-Person Voting starts October 6. Each county board of elections has a designated place for Early In-Person Voting. The schedule is:
- Tuesday through Friday, October 6 through 9 – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, October 12 through 16 – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, October 19 through 23 – 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24 – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday, October 25 – 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, October 26 through 30 – 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 31 – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday, November 1 – 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, November 2 – 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Election Day
For voters who have not voted by absentee ballot or early in-person voting, November 3 is the official Election Day. Polls will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Ohio still needs several thousand poll workers. There are special programs available to recruit workers from earning CLE credits to donating poll worker’s pay to a specific nonprofit.
Information on how to register, how to vote and how to work at the polls is at VoteOhio.gov.