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Democratic Party primaries in Ohio, 2020

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2022
2018

Democratic Party primaries, 2020

Ohio Democratic Party.png

Primary Date
April 28, 2020

Primary Runoff Date
N/A

Federal elections
Democratic primaries for U.S. House

State party
Democratic Party of Ohio
State political party revenue

This page focuses on the Democratic primaries that took place in Ohio on April 28, 2020. Click here for more information about the Republican primaries.

Note that the dates and terms of participation for presidential preference primaries and caucuses sometimes differ from those that apply to primaries for state-level and other federal offices, which are the subject of this article. For more information on this state's presidential nomination process, click here.

Federal elections

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in Ohio, 2020 (April 28 Democratic primaries)
The 2020 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Ohio took place on November 3, 2020. Voters elected 16 candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state's 16 congressional districts. To see a full list of candidates in the Democratic primary in each district, click "Show more" below.
Show more

District 1

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 2

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 3

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 4

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 5

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 6

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 7

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 8

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 9

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 10

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 11

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 12

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 13

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 14

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 15

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 16

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

State elections

State Senate

See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2020
The Ohio State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state Senate candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Ohio State Senate elections, 2020

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 2

Green check mark transparent.pngJoel O'Dorisio  Candidate Connection
Reem Subei  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngTheresa Gavarone (i)

District 4

Green check mark transparent.pngKathy Wyenandt

Candice Keller
Green check mark transparent.pngGeorge Lang
Lee Wong

District 6

Green check mark transparent.pngMark Fogel  Candidate Connection
Albert Griggs Jr.

Green check mark transparent.pngNiraj Antani
Gregory Alan Robinson
Rachel Selby  Candidate Connection

District 8

Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Brown

Green check mark transparent.pngLouis W. Blessing, III (i)

District 10

Green check mark transparent.pngCharles Ballard

Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Hackett (i)

District 12

Green check mark transparent.pngKen Poling

Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Huffman (i)

District 14

Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Ottney  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngTerry Johnson (i)
David Uible  Candidate Connection

District 16

Mark Bailey  Candidate Connection
Troy Doucet  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngCrystal Lett  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Justin Adkins 
Eric Connelly 

Green check mark transparent.pngStephanie Kunze (i)

District 18

Green check mark transparent.pngBetsy Rader  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJerry Cirino

District 20

Green check mark transparent.pngChristian Johnson  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngTim Schaffer (i)

District 22

Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Johnson

Cory Branham  Candidate Connection
Ron Falconi
Timothy Hoven
Michael Reynolds  (unofficially withdrew)
Green check mark transparent.pngMark J. Romanchuk

District 24

Green check mark transparent.pngTom Jackson  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Dolan (i)

District 26

Green check mark transparent.pngCraig Swartz  Candidate Connection

Melissa Ackison
Green check mark transparent.pngBill Reineke  Candidate Connection

District 28

Green check mark transparent.pngVernon Sykes (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Downey

District 30

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Fletcher  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Hoagland (i)

District 32

Green check mark transparent.pngSean O'Brien (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngSandra O'Brien
Kenneth Polke

State House

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2020
The Ohio House of Representatives was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state House candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Ohio State House elections, 2020

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 1

Green check mark transparent.pngAlison Theiss

Green check mark transparent.pngScott Wiggam (i)
Jason Wetz

District 2

Carline Curry (Write-in)
Green check mark transparent.pngSam Grady (Write-in)  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngMarilyn John
Nathan Martin  Candidate Connection

District 3

Green check mark transparent.pngLaurel Johnson

Green check mark transparent.pngHaraz Ghanbari (i)

District 4

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBob Cupp (i)

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngChristina Marie Holloway (Write-in)  Candidate Connection
District 5

Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Winston  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngTim Ginter (i)

District 6

Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Robinson (i)

Ed Hargate
Green check mark transparent.pngShay Hawkins  Candidate Connection

District 7

Green check mark transparent.pngJoan Sweeny  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngThomas Patton (i)

District 8

Green check mark transparent.pngKent Smith (i)

Chris Litwinowicz (Write-in)

District 9

Green check mark transparent.pngJanine Boyd (i)
Vincent Stokes II

Green check mark transparent.pngDustin Russell

District 10

Green check mark transparent.pngTerrence Upchurch (i)
J. Allen Burger  Candidate Connection

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 11

Green check mark transparent.pngStephanie Howse-Jones (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 12

Green check mark transparent.pngJuanita Brent (i)
Felicia Washington Ross
Phyllis Ann Peterson (Write-in)

Green check mark transparent.pngJerry Powell (Write-in)

District 13

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Skindell (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Harrington (Write-in)

District 14

Green check mark transparent.pngBride Rose Sweeney (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngLynn McMahan

District 15

Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Crossman (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Kussmaul

District 16

Joe Romano
Green check mark transparent.pngMonique Smith  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDave Greenspan (i)

District 17

Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Miller (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngTim Haske
John Rutan  Candidate Connection

District 18

Green check mark transparent.pngKristin Boggs (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngKayla Packard

District 19

Green check mark transparent.pngMary Lightbody (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMeredith Freedhoff

District 20

Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Brown (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Baer

District 21

Green check mark transparent.pngBeth Liston (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMehek Cooke

District 22

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Leland (i)
Kashi Adhikari

Green check mark transparent.pngStephany Spencer

District 23

Green check mark transparent.pngNancy Day‐Achauer  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngLaura Lanese (i)

District 24

Green check mark transparent.pngAllison Russo (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngPat Manley

District 25

Mohamud Jama
Green check mark transparent.pngDontavius Jarrells
Gary Josephson
Mayo Makinde
Kofi Nsia‐Pepra

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Burgess

District 26

Green check mark transparent.pngErica Crawley (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


Did not make the ballot:
Steve Blake 

District 27

Green check mark transparent.pngSara Bitter

Green check mark transparent.pngTom Brinkman Jr. (i)

District 28

Green check mark transparent.pngJessica Miranda (i)
Regina Collins (Write-in)

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Monzel

District 29

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngCindy Abrams (i)

District 30

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBill Seitz (i)

District 31

Green check mark transparent.pngBrigid Kelly (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 32

Green check mark transparent.pngCatherine Ingram (i)
Dadrien Washington  Candidate Connection

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 33

Green check mark transparent.pngSedrick Denson (i)
Terence Gragston  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngMary Hill

District 34

Green check mark transparent.pngEmilia Sykes (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngHenry Todd

District 35

Green check mark transparent.pngTavia Galonski (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJodi Sarver

District 36

AJ Harris  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Shaughnessy  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngBob Young  Candidate Connection

District 37

Green check mark transparent.pngCasey Weinstein (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngBeth Bigham  Candidate Connection

District 38

Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Campbell  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngBill Roemer (i)

District 39

Green check mark transparent.pngWillis Blackshear Jr.
Walter James Hickman Jr.
Jo'el Jones

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Ferrell Mullins III

District 40

Green check mark transparent.pngLeronda Jackson

Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Plummer (i)

District 41

Green check mark transparent.pngCate Berger  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngAndrea White

District 42

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Jake Stubbs
Green check mark transparent.pngTom Young

District 43

Green check mark transparent.pngAmy Cox  Candidate Connection

Jeffrey Todd Smith (i)  (unofficially withdrew)
Green check mark transparent.pngRodney Creech

District 44

Green check mark transparent.pngPaula Hicks-Hudson (i) (Write-in)

Green check mark transparent.pngRobert McMahon

District 45

Green check mark transparent.pngLisa Sobecki (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngShane Logan

District 46

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Sheehy (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Salander

District 47

Green check mark transparent.pngNancy Larson

Green check mark transparent.pngDerek Merrin (i)

District 48

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngScott Oelslager (i)

District 49

Green check mark transparent.pngThomas West (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Haavisto

District 50

Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Simeone

Green check mark transparent.pngReggie Stoltzfus (i)

District 51

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngSara Carruthers (i)

District 52

Green check mark transparent.pngChuck Horn

Green check mark transparent.pngJennifer Gross
Mark Welch

District 53

Green check mark transparent.pngMichelle Novak  Candidate Connection

Brett Guido
Green check mark transparent.pngThomas Hall
Diane Mullins

Did not make the ballot:
Jeffrey Wellbaum 

District 54

Green check mark transparent.pngMorgan Showen  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Zeltwanger (i)

District 55

Green check mark transparent.pngZach Stepp  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngGayle L. Manning (i)

District 56

Green check mark transparent.pngJoseph A. Miller III (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngBradley Lacko

District 57

Green check mark transparent.pngDara Adkison

Green check mark transparent.pngDick Stein (i)

District 58

Green check mark transparent.pngMichele Lepore-Hagan (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Simon

District 59

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Stanley  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDon Manning (i)  (unofficially withdrew)

District 60

Green check mark transparent.pngDan Troy  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngGeorge Phillips

District 61

Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Dudziak  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJamie Callender (i)

District 62

Green check mark transparent.pngErin Rosiello  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngScott Lipps (i)

District 63

Green check mark transparent.pngGil Blair (i)
Werner Lange  Candidate Connection
Barry Profato

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Loychik  Candidate Connection

District 64

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael O'Brien (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMartha Yoder

District 65

Green check mark transparent.pngAlan Darnowsky  Candidate Connection

Dillon Blevins  Candidate Connection
Joe Dills  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngJean Schmidt

District 66

No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Bird  Candidate Connection
Allen Freeman
Nick Owens

District 67

Green check mark transparent.pngRachael Morocco

Green check mark transparent.pngKris Jordan (i)

District 68

Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Mount

Green check mark transparent.pngRick Carfagna (i)

District 69

Green check mark transparent.pngDonna Beheydt  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngSharon Ray

District 70

Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Barnet

Green check mark transparent.pngDarrell Kick (i)
Terry Robertson

District 71

Green check mark transparent.pngMark Carr  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngMark Fraizer (i)  Candidate Connection
Thaddeus Claggett

District 72

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngLarry Householder (i)

District 73

Green check mark transparent.pngKim McCarthy  Candidate Connection

John Broughton
Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Lampton

District 74

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBill Dean (i)

District 75

Green check mark transparent.pngRandi Clites (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngGail Pavliga  Candidate Connection

District 76

Green check mark transparent.pngGarrett Westhoven  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDiane Grendell (i)
Frank Hall

District 77

Green check mark transparent.pngMelissa Wilde

Green check mark transparent.pngJeff LaRe (i)

District 78

Green check mark transparent.pngCharlotte Owens

Aaron Adams
Bobby Mitchell
Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Stewart

District 79

Green check mark transparent.pngCynthia Richards

Green check mark transparent.pngKyle Koehler (i)

District 80

Green check mark transparent.pngTed Jones (Write-in)

Green check mark transparent.pngJena Powell (i)

District 81

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJames Hoops (i)

District 82

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngCraig Riedel (i)

District 83

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJon Cross (i)

District 84

Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Monbeck

Green check mark transparent.pngSusan Manchester (i)

District 85

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngNino Vitale (i)

District 86

Green check mark transparent.pngTiffanie Roberts

Green check mark transparent.pngTracy Richardson (i)

District 87

Green check mark transparent.pngNicholas Barnes  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngRiordan McClain (i)

District 88

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Liebold

Green check mark transparent.pngGary Click
Ed Ollom
Shayne Thomas

District 89

Green check mark transparent.pngAlexis Miller

Green check mark transparent.pngD.J. Swearingen (i)

District 90

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Baldridge (i)

District 91

Green check mark transparent.pngScott Dailey

Green check mark transparent.pngShane Wilkin (i)

District 92

Green check mark transparent.pngBeth Workman  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngMark Johnson

District 93

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJason Stephens (i)
Jeff Halley

District 94

Green check mark transparent.pngKatie O'Neill

Green check mark transparent.pngJay Edwards (i)

District 95

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDon Jones (i)

District 96

Charlie DiPalma
Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Olivito

Green check mark transparent.pngRon Ferguson  Candidate Connection

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngOscar Herrera  Candidate Connection
District 97

Green check mark transparent.pngAlaina Swope  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Holmes (i)

District 98

Green check mark transparent.pngTodd Beegle

Green check mark transparent.pngBrett Hudson Hillyer (i)

District 99

Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Dana  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Fowler

State supreme court

See also: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2020

The terms of two Ohio Supreme Court justices expired on December 31, 2020. The two seats were up for nonpartisan general election on November 3, 2020. A partisan primary was scheduled for April 28, 2020.

Judith French's seat

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Sharon L. Kennedy's seat

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

Intermediate appellate courts

See also: Ohio intermediate appellate court elections, 2020

The terms of 21 Ohio District Courts of Appeals justices expired on February 8, 2021. The 21 seats were up for nonpartisan general election on November 3, 2020. A partisan primary was scheduled for April 28, 2020. A full term on the court is six years.

First District

Russell Mock's seat

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

Second District

Jeffrey Froelich's seat

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

Third District

Vernon Preston's seat

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

    Fourth District

    Peter Abele's seat

    Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

    The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

      Fifth District

      William Hoffman's seat

      Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

      Sixth District

      Thomas Osowik's seat

      Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

      Arlene Singer's seat

      Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

      Seventh District

      Carol Ann Robb's seat

      Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

      The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

        Cheryl Waite's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Eighth District

        Patricia Blackmon's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Sean Gallagher's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Raymond Headen's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


        Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

        Larry A. Jones Sr.' seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Anita Laster Mays' seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Ninth District

        Julie A. Schafer's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Tenth District

        Frederick Nelson's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Lisa Sadler's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Eleventh District

        Timothy Cannon's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Cynthia Rice's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        Twelth District

        Robert Hendrickson's seat

        Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

        The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

          Robert Ringland's seat

          Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

          No candidates filed for the Democratic Party primary.

            Context of the 2020 elections

            Ohio Party Control: 1992-2024
            No Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-six years of Republican trifectas
            Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

            Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
            Governor R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
            Senate R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
            House D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

            State party overview

            See also: Democratic Party of Ohio

            State political party revenue

            See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

            State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws.

            The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following map displays total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic state party affiliates.


            Voter information

            How the primary works

            A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Ohio law provides for closed primaries, meaning a voter to be affiliated with a party to vote in that party's primary. However a voter of any affiliation can choose the ballot they would like to vote on the day of the primary and their choice may be regarded as registration with that party.[1][2]

            For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

            Poll times

            In Ohio, all polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Voters who are in line at 7:30 p.m. are permitted to vote.[3]

            Registration requirements

            Check your voter registration status here.

            To register to vote in Ohio, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the election. Individuals who are incarcerated for a felony conviction, have been declared by a court to be incompetent for voting purposes, or have been permanently disenfranchised may not register to vote.[4]

            Applicants may register to vote online, in person, or by mail. The Ohio Voter Registration and Information Update Form is available online and can be requested by mail. In-person voter registration is available at various locations including the secretary of state and board of elections offices, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices, public libraries and high schools, and other state agencies. A full list of locations is available here.

            The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the next election. An Ohio driver’s license number, state ID card number, or the last four digits of a SSN is required in order to register to vote or update a voter registration.[5][6]

            Automatic registration

            Ohio does not practice automatic voter registration.[7]

            Online registration

            See also: Online voter registration

            Ohio has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

            Same-day registration

            Ohio does not allow same-day voter registration.[7]

            Residency requirements

            Prospective voters must be residents of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election.[7]

            Verification of citizenship

            See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

            Ohio requires those registering to vote or updating their voter registration information at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility to provide proof of citizenship before being allowed to do so.[8] Individuals registering to vote in other settings do not have to provide proof of citizenship but must attest to their citizenship in a sworn statement.[9]

            All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[10] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

            Verifying your registration

            The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

            Voter ID requirements

            Ohio requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[11]

            The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Ohio Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

            • Ohio driver's license;
            • State of Ohio ID card;
            • Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
            • A US passport;
            • A US passport card;
            • US military ID card;
            • Ohio National Guard ID card; or
            • US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

            All photo IDs must have the following:

            • An expiration date that has not passed;
            • A photograph of the voter;
            • The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book

            An unexpired Ohio Driver License, State ID Card, or Interim Documentation with your former address IS an ACCEPTABLE form of ID when your current address is in the pollbook.[12]

            Ohio voters can obtain a free state ID card from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.[13]

            Early voting

            Ohio permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

            Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

            Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

            Absentee voting

            All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Ohio. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[14]

            Absentee ballots may be requested for each individual election beginning on January 1, or 90 days before the date of an election, whichever is earlier. The request must be received by the local county board of elections by the close of business on the seventh day before the election. A returned absentee ballot must then be postmarked at least one day before Election Day and received by the elections board no later than 4 days after the election.[14][15]


            Pivot Counties

            See also: Pivot Counties by state

            Nine of 88 Ohio counties—10.2 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

            Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
            County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
            Ashtabula County, Ohio 18.80% 12.78% 13.54%
            Erie County, Ohio 9.48% 12.29% 13.86%
            Montgomery County, Ohio 0.73% 4.62% 6.22%
            Ottawa County, Ohio 19.51% 4.30% 6.24%
            Portage County, Ohio 9.87% 5.52% 8.99%
            Sandusky County, Ohio 22.58% 2.71% 4.64%
            Stark County, Ohio 17.17% 0.47% 5.46%
            Trumbull County, Ohio 6.22% 23.00% 22.43%
            Wood County, Ohio 7.99% 4.84% 7.13%

            In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Ohio with 51.7 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 43.6 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Ohio cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 93.3 percent of the time (28 out of 30 elections), more than any other state in the country. In that same time frame, Ohio supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 60 to 40 percent. Between 2000 and 2016, Ohio voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election.

            Presidential results by legislative district

            The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Ohio. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[16][17]

            In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 39 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 35.7 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 33 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 34 points. Clinton won seven districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
            In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 60 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 17.4 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 66 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 28.3 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


            See also


            External links

            Footnotes

            1. Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.19," accessed September 5, 2025
            2. Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.05," accessed September 5, 2025
            3. Ohio Secretary of State, “Election Day Voting,” accessed April 12, 2023
            4. Ohio Secretary of State, “Voter Eligibility & Residency Requirements,” accessed April 12, 2023
            5. Ohio Secretary of State, “Register to Vote and Update Your Registration,” accessed April 6, 2023
            6. Democracy Docket, “Ohio Governor Signs Strict Photo ID Bill Into Law,” January 6, 2023
            7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 7, 2024
            8. BillTrack50, "Ohio HB54," accessed September 30, 2025
            9. Columbus Dispatch, "Advocates sue Ohio over law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote at BMV," August 26, 2025
            10. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
            11. Ohio Secretary of State, "Identification requirements," accessed October 8, 2025
            12. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
            13. Ohio BMV, "Securing an Ohio ID," accessed October 8, 2025
            14. 14.0 14.1 Ohio Secretary of State, "Voting Absentee by Mail," accessed April 6, 2023
            15. Democracy Docket, "Ohio Governor Signs Strict Photo ID Bill Into Law," January 6, 2023
            16. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
            17. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017