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Election administration in Ohio
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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.
Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Ohio:
Poll times
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
In Ohio, all polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.[2] Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]
Voter registration
- 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 county board of elections offices, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices, public libraries and high schools, county treasurers' offices, and other state agencies.[5] 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 to register to vote or update a voter registration.[5][6]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter 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
- See also: Same-day voter registration
Ohio does not allow same-day voter registration.[8]
Residency requirements
Prospective voters must be "a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election in which you want to vote," according to the Ohio Secretary of State's Office.[4]
Verification of citizenship
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.[9] 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.[10]
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.[11] 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.
Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
Early voting
- See also: 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/mail-in voting
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Ohio. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[12]
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 local county board of elections must receive the request by the close of business on the seventh day before the election.
On December 19, 2025, Gov. Mike DeWine signed SB 293 into law, requiring absentee ballots be received by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted. Previously, absentee ballots could be counted if they were postmarked at least one day before Election Day and received within four days of the election.[13]
All states allow for some form of absentee/mail-in voting. Seven states and the District of Columbia had automatic mail-in ballot systems that mandate that all eligible voters receive an absentee/mail ballot by default. An eighth state, Vermont, had such a system for general elections only.
Twenty-eight states allow any eligible voter to cast an absentee/mail-in ballot. The remaining 14 states required voters to provide an excuse to receive and cast an absentee/mail ballot. Acceptable excuses vary by state.
Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
- See also: Ballot collection laws by state
Ohio voters may return their ballots to the appropriate director of elections by mail or in person. The family of a voter may also return the ballot on an elector’s behalf. Disabled voters may choose someone other than a family member to return their voted ballot; however, this person cannot return the ballot to a drop box.[14][15]
Ohio law states the following:
| “ | The elector shall mail the identification envelope to the office of the board of elections in the return envelope, postage prepaid, or the elector may personally deliver it to the office of the board, or the spouse of the elector, the father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister of the whole or half blood, or the son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of the elector may deliver it to the office of the board.[16] | ” |
Voters must complete and sign the statement of voter on the outside of the identification envelope included with their absentee/mail-in ballot. Voters must provide one of the following:[15]
- The elector's Ohio driver's license or state identification card number on the statement of voter on the identification envelope;
- The last four digits of the elector's social security number on the statement of voter on the identification envelope;
- Or, a copy of the elector's photo identification in the return envelope with the identification envelope.
Twenty states allow anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allow anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allow only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Eight states and D.C. do not specify who may return ballots.
Drop box availability
Ohio law permits, but does not require, drop boxes. State law says that local boards of election "may place not more than one secure receptacle outside the office of the board, on the property on which the office of the board is located, for the purpose of receiving absent voter's ballots under this section."[15]
Drop boxes must be monitored by video surveillance at all times. Only a bipartisan team of election officials may open a drop box or handle its contents.[15]
Signature requirements and cure provisions
In Ohio, ballot return envelopes contain an identification statement; voters must sign the statement and provide their driver’s license number, the last four digits of their social security number, or a copy of their photo ID. The signature on the envelope is compared with the signature on the voter’s registration form to determine eligibility.[17]
Ohio law contains cure provisions, which offer the following instructions to correct a deficient ballot:[17]
| “ | If the director and the deputy director find that the identification envelope statement of voter is incomplete or that the information contained in that statement does not conform to the information contained in the statewide voter registration database concerning the voter or to the information contained in the voter's confidential voter registration record, the director and the deputy director shall mail a written notice to the voter informing the voter of the nature of the defect. The notice shall inform the voter that in order for the voter's ballot to be counted the voter must provide the necessary information to the board of elections in writing and on a form prescribed by the secretary of state not later than the fourth day after the day of the election. The voter may deliver the form to the office of the board in person or by mail. If the voter provides the necessary information to the board of elections not later than the fourth day after the day of the election and the ballot is not successfully challenged on another basis, the voter's ballot shall be counted.[16] | ” |
Thirty-three states have laws that include cure provisions, while 17 states do not. One state, Pennsylvania, allows counties to establish a cure process.
Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?
Use the Absentee/mail-in Ballot Tracker tool provided by the Ohio Secretary of State office to check the status of your absentee/mail-in ballot.
Voter identification requirements
- See also: Voter ID in Ohio
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Ohio requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[18]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of December 2025. Click here for the Ohio Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
| “ |
All photo IDs must have the following:
NOTICE: 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.[16] |
” |
To view Ohio law pertaining to voter identification, click here.
Ohio voters can obtain a free state ID card from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.[19]
Thirty-six states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 require voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 14 states do not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.
Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.
Provisional balloting for voters without ID
Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast provisional ballots. See below for provisional ballot rules.
Provisional ballot rules
Voters in Ohio are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.[20]
(1) If the voter’s name does not appear on the poll list for that precinct or an election official asserts a voter is ineligible to vote or is unable to determine his or her eligibility, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(2) If the voter does not have the proper form of photo identification, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(3) If the voter’s name appears on the official poll list as having requested an absentee ballot, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(4) If the voter "is marked on the poll list or signature book with a notation that certain registration mailings have been returned as undeliverable", the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(5) If the voter’s "registration has been challenged and/or a hearing on a challenge to your eligibility as an elector has been postponed until after Election Day", the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(6) If the voter’s signature does not match the signature on the registration form, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
In addition, Gov. Mike DeWine signed SB 293 on December 19, 2025. The bill contains a provision requiring voters whose date of birth, ID number, or Social Security number does not match what is in state or federal databases to vote via provisional ballot unless they address the mismatch.[21] Voters who present an ID indicating they are not a U.S. citizen must also cast a provisional ballot if they cannot provide proof of citizenship at the polls. A person must provide proof of citizenship within four days of the election for their provisional ballot to be counted.[21]
A provisional ballot is rejected in the following circumstances:[22]
- If the voter is not registered;
- If the voter was not eligible to vote in that precinct or for that election;
- If the voter did not provide the required information;
- If the voter already voted;
- If the voter failed to provide any additional information required within the curing period (4 days after the election);
- If the voter did not provide proper identification;
- If the voter’s information does not match the information in the voter registration database; or
- If the voter's date of birth is different from the date of birth in the voter’s registration.
Was your provisional ballot counted?
Ohio state law requires that a voter who casts a provisional ballot be informed of a toll-free telephone number which he or she can call to check on the status of the ballot.[23] That phone number is (866) 644-6868.[24]
Ohio law states:[23]
| “ | (a) At the time that an individual casts a provisional ballot, the appropriate local election official shall give the individual written information that states that any individual who casts a provisional ballot will be able to ascertain under the system established under division (B)(5)(b) of this section whether the vote was counted, and, if the vote was not counted, the reason that the vote was not counted.
(b) The appropriate state or local election official shall establish a free access system, in the form of a toll-free telephone number, that any individual who casts a provisional ballot may access to discover whether the vote of that individual was counted, and, if the vote was not counted, the reason that the vote was not counted. The free access system established under this division also shall provide to an individual whose provisional ballot was not counted information explaining how that individual may contact the board of elections to register to vote or to resolve problems with the individual's voter registration.[16] |
” |
Primary election type
- See also: Primary elections in Ohio
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 must 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.[25][26]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Time off work for voting
In Ohio, employees have the right to a reasonable amount of paid time off work to vote. Employers who impede employees may be fined between $50 and $500:[27]
| “ | No employer, his officer or agent, shall discharge or threaten to discharge an elector for taking a reasonable amount of time to vote on election day; or require or order an elector to accompany him to a voting place upon such day; or refuse to permit such elector to serve as an election official on any registration or election day; or indirectly use any force or restraint or threaten to inflict any injury, harm, or loss; or in any other manner practice intimidation in order to induce or compel such person to vote or refrain from voting for or against any person or question or issue submitted to the voters.
|
” |
Twenty-eight states require employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies vary as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.
Electioneering
Ohio law prohibits certain activities while an election is ongoing or ballots are being counted. State law says:[28]
| “ |
(A) During an election and the counting of the ballots, no person shall do any of the following:
|
” |
No individual who is not an election official, employee, observer, police officer, voter, or person assisting a voter may enter a polling place. In addition, state law gives journalists reasonable access to polling places.[28]
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
In Ohio, people convicted of a felony automatically regain their voting rights after serving their prison sentence. People who have committed two or more felony offenses violating state election laws are ineligible to regain their voting rights. According to the secretary of state's office, "The voter registration of a person who is incarcerated on a felony conviction is cancelled; once that person has completed his or her jail or prison sentence, or is on probation, parole or community control, he or she must re-register to vote by the registration deadline before voting."[4][29]
Voting rights for convicted felons vary from state to state. In the majority of states, convicted felons cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[30]
Voter list maintenance
All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls—or, check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[31] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[32]
When names can be removed from the voter list
Ohio law authorizes election officials to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:[33][34][35][21]
- dies
- is adjudicated as “incompetent” for voting purposes
- is convicted of a felony
- requests in writing to be removed from the voter rolls
- is determined to have moved outside of the county
- remains in inactive status through two federal general elections
- votes by provisional ballot because their date of birth, ID number, or Social Security number does not match what is in state or federal databases, and the voter doesn't provide the required documentation to address the mismatch
- is deemed to be ineligible to vote
- is deemed not to be a U.S. citizen
- votes by provisional ballot because their citizenship was challenged at the polling place, and does not provide proof of citizenship within four days of the election
- is deemed a fictitious person
- is deemed to have a duplicate registration.
Inactive voter list rules
The Secretary of State’s office is to verify the status of registered Ohio voters every year using National Change of Address data. The Secretary of State’s office is to notify county election officials of individuals it determines have moved. County election officials then send these individuals confirmation of address notices. If these individuals do not respond, they are to remain on the list of registered voters until they fail to vote in two consecutive general elections.[34]
The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member-states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[36]
Twenty-five states are participating members in the ERIC program. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have joined and participated in ERIC at some point.[37]
As of December 2025, Ohio was not participating in the ERIC program.[38]
Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) withdrew Ohio from ERIC on March 17, 2023, saying, "I cannot justify the use of Ohio’s tax dollars for an organization that seems intent on rejecting meaningful accountability, publicly maligning my motives, and waging a relentless campaign of misinformation about this [reform] effort.”[39]
Post-election auditing
Ohio state law requires post-election audits. Local election boards conduct an audit of at least three races. Members of the board decide if they will audit by precinct, polling location, or individual voting machine.[40]
The board is required to escalate the audit if the accuracy rate is below 99.5% in contests with a margin of victory of 1% or more or if the accuracy rate is below 99.8% in contests with a margin of victory of less than 1%. Escalation means drawing a second random sample of at least 5% of votes from unaudited units and auditing those ballots using the same procedure. If discrepancies remain, the cause must be investigated and reported to the secretary of state. The state may require a full hand count of ballots in these cases. The audit must be completed within 21 days of the election. If there is a recount, the audit must be completed within 14 days of the election.[40]
Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[41][42]
Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.
Forty-six states and the District of Columbia require some form of post-election audit by law, excluding states with pilot programs. Of these, 39 states and the District of Columbia require traditional post-election audits, while three states require risk-limiting post-election audits, and three states require some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.[43][41]
Election administration authorities
State election officials
In Ohio, the secretary of state is the state's chief election officer.[44] There is no state board of elections or equivalent authority. The secretary of state is elected by popular vote every four years.
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Noteworthy events
Gov. DeWine signs bill changing absentee ballot return deadline (2025)
On December 19, 2025 Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed SB 293, which requires absentee ballots to be received by the close of polls on Election Day, except for military or overseas ballots. Previously in Ohio, absentee ballots were counted if they were postmarked at least one day prior to Election Day and arrived within four days after the election.[45]
Speaking in support of the bill, Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) said "My primary motivation for doing this is to make sure that Ohio is very clear with an easy to remember date."[46]
State Rep. Allison Russo (D) said the bill is "punishing voters and changing the rules, essentially throwing out ballots simply because of delays in the mail."[47]
The legislation passed the Ohio House of Representatives on November 19 on a 61-30 vote, with 61 Republicans voting in favor and 28 Democrats and two Republicans voting in opposition. Later that day, the bill passed the Ohio Senate on a 23-10 vote, with 23 Republicans voting in favor and nine Democrats and one Republican voting in opposition.[21]
SB 293 also makes other changes to Ohio’s election laws:
- It requires the secretary of state to provide information to local election officials on voters whose date of birth, ID number, or Social Security number does not match what is in state or federal databases. Those voters must be mailed a notice informing them they must cast a provisional ballot in the next election unless they provide updated information to address any mismatch.
- It requires the secretary of state to conduct monthly reviews of the statewide voter registration database to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens. Currently, these checks must occur annually.
- It requires the secretary of state to notify each local board of elections of each person in their county who is determined not to be a U.S. citizen. Local election officials must then cancel the voter registration of any person who is not a U.S. citizen. The state election integrity unit is also required to further investigate the person.
- It requires that a voter's eligibility be challenged if they present an ID that states the person is a noncitizen of the United States. Challenged individuals must either provide proof of citizenship at the polls or cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of citizenship within four days of the election for their ballot to be counted.
- It requires cancellation of a voter's registration if they are deemed a fictitious person, if the registration is determined to be a duplicate, or if the person is found not to be a U.S. citizen or doesn't provide proof of citizenship when challenged.
Ohio implements photo ID requirement (2023)
On January 6, 2023, Governor Mike DeWine (R) signed House Bill 458 into law with an effective date of April 7, 2023. The law made several changes to Ohio's election laws, including adding a photo identification requirement. Previously, Ohio voters were able to present non-photo identification (such as utility bills or bank statements) when voting.[48]
According to HB 458, '"Photo identification" means one of the following documents that includes the individual's name and photograph and is not expired:[49]
- An Ohio driver's license, state identification card, or interim identification form issued by the registrar of motor vehicles;
- A U.S. passport or passport card;
- A U.S. military, Ohio national guard, or U.S. department of veterans affairs identification card.
In-person voters without one of these photo IDs can vote by provisional ballot. A religious exemption can be requested by submitting a form.[48][49]
Absentee by mail voters must include a copy of their photo identification, their Ohio driver’s license/ID number, or the last four digits of their social security number with their requests for an absentee/mail-in ballot.[48][49]
HB 458 also made other election law changes. It changed the length of time for voters to request an absentee ballot and changed the deadline to return an absentee ballot. It changed the number of days voters have to cure ballots after an election. It adjusted the number of ballot drop box or drop-off locations. It also changed the dates for in-person early voting.[48][49]
Court orders election officials to count provisional ballots (2018)
On October 31, 2018, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ordered Ohio election officials to count provisional ballots for the 2018 election cast by qualified voters removed from registration rolls between 2011 and 2015 that still lived in the same county indicated on their last registrations.
The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in 2016 alleging that notices sent to inactive voters between 2011 and 2015 violated federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that Ohio's voter list maintenance procedures do not violate the National Voter Registration Act, prompting a federal district court judge to dismiss the lawsuit. The plaintiffs then appealed this decision to the Sixth Circuit, which issued its October 31 order.[50]
Changes to early and absentee voting provisions (2014-2015)
On February 21, 2014, Governor John Kasich (R) signed into law two bills that altered the state's early and absentee voting provisions. Senate Bill 238 eliminated a period during which state residents could register and vote on the same day, and shortened the early voting period by a week. Senate Bill 205 established a requirement that the Secretary of State obtain funding approval from the legislature before mailing absentee ballot applications statewide.[51]
Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Cuyahoga County executive Ed FitzGerald denounced the bills as "outrageous and unnecessary and totally motivated by a desire to make it tougher to vote." He also indicated that he had directed his county law director to review the bills for possible legal action.[51]
The Ohio Association of Election Officials said that allowing individuals to both register and vote on the same day results in difficulties in properly validating voters.[51]
Senate Bill 238 was subject to a legal challenge. On April 17, 2015, the parties involved agreed to a settlement. The terms of the settlement included the restoration of one day of voting on Sunday, additional weekday evening voting hours, and the elimination of a period during which state residents could register and vote on the same day."[52]
Election policy ballot measures
Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Ohio.
- Ohio Voting Machine Use Amendment (September 1912)
- Ohio Primary Election and Delegate Selection Requirements Amendment (September 1912)
- Ohio Biennial Elections, Amendment 1 (1905)
- Ohio Elections of Members of the General Assembly, Amendment 2 (October 1879)
- Ohio Elections of State Officers, Amendment 3 (October 1879)
- Ohio Elections of Township Trustees, Amendment 4 (October 1879)
- Ohio Election Day for Members of the General Assembly, Amendment 1 (October 1885)
- Ohio Election Day for State Officers, Amendment 2 (October 1885)
- Ohio Election Day for County Officers, Amendment 3 (October 1885)
- Ohio Biennial Elections, Amendment 3 (1889)
The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Ohio. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official bill name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Sponsor party
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia
Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation TrackerBallotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker provides daily updates on legislative activity related to election policy in all 50 states.
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Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation ReportsBallotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state.
These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.
Subscribe to The Ballot BulletinThe Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy.
The newsletter tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Ballot access
In order to get on the ballot in Ohio, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.
There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.
- An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
- An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
- An individual can run as a write-in candidate.
This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Ohio. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Ohio
Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Ohio's 15 United States representatives and 132 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States senators are not elected by districts but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States Census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[53][54][55][56]
Ohio was apportioned 15 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, 1 fewer than it received after the 2010 census.
State process
- See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures
In Ohio, the state legislature or a commission may have the opportunity to draw congressional maps. A bipartisan state legislative commission draws state legislative maps. A six-member advisory commission is involved in both the congressional and state legislative redistricting processes.
Contact information
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Ohio can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Ohio County Boards of Elections
Ohio Secretary of State, Elections Division
- 180 Civic Center Dr.
- Columbus, Ohio 43215
- Phone: 614-466-2585
- Toll free: 1-877-767-6446
- Website: https://www.sos.state.oh.us
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2026
See also
- Election laws and legislation in Ohio
- State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
- Factors affecting the speed of ballot counting and delivery of unofficial election results
- Voting in Ohio
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Ohio
- Redistricting in Ohio
Elections in Ohio
- Ohio elections, 2025
- Ohio elections, 2024
- Ohio elections, 2023
- Ohio elections, 2022
- Ohio elections, 2021
- Ohio elections, 2020
- Ohio elections, 2019
- Ohio elections, 2018
- Ohio elections, 2017
- Ohio elections, 2016
- Ohio elections, 2015
- Ohio elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, “Election Day Voting,” accessed December 18, 2025
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "Election Day has arrived. Here is what you need to know before heading to the polls," November 5, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ohio Secretary of State, “Voter Eligibility & Residency Requirements,” accessed December 18, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ohio Secretary of State, "Register to Vote and Update Your Registration," accessed December 18, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "register" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Democracy Docket, “Ohio Governor Signs Strict Photo ID Bill Into Law,” January 6, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed December 18, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed December 18, 2025
- ↑ BillTrack50, "Ohio HB54," accessed December 18, 2025
- ↑ Columbus Dispatch, "Advocates sue Ohio over law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote at BMV," August 26, 2025
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Voting Absentee by Mail," accessed December 18, 2025
- ↑ Ohio General Assembly, "Senate Bill 293 Documents," accessed December 21, 2025
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "Ohio Drop Box Limitations Challenge," accessed December 18, 2025
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3509.05," accessed December 18, 2025
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3509.06," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Identification requirements," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Ohio BMV, "Securing an Ohio ID," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Provisional Voting," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedtwoninetythree - ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Provisional Ballots," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3505.181," accessed December 18, 2025
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Provisional Ballot Notice," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.19," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.05," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.06," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.35," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ U.S. Department of Justice, "Guide to State Voting Rules That Apply After a Criminal Conviction," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," August 19, 2025
- ↑ As of May 2024, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
- ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed May 29, 2024
- ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.18," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.21," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.33," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed May 29, 2024
- ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed May 29, 2024
- ↑ ERIC, "What is ERIC?" accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "Ohio Intends To Withdraw From Voter Data Organization ERIC," March 17, 2023
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 Ohio Secretary of State, "Section 11.01 Post-Election Activities Introduction," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in October 2024, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.04," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Columbus Dispatch, "Gov. Mike DeWine signs bill to end grace period for mail-in ballots," December 19, 2025
- ↑ Ohio Capital Journal, "Ohio lawmakers clear absentee ballot, citizenship restrictions for House floor vote," November 18, 2025
- ↑ Signal Ohio, "Ohio Republicans poised to end grace period for mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day," November 18, 2025
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 Democracy Docket, "Ohio Governor Signs Strict Photo ID Bill Into Law," January 6, 2023
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 134th General Assembly, "Substitute House Bill Number 458," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "Court orders Ohio boards of election to count provisional ballots in midterms for certain voters purged from rolls," October 31, 2018
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 The Columbus Dispatch, "Kasich signs both elections bills; 'livid' FitzGerald may take action," February 22, 2014
- ↑ MSNBC, "Settlement reverses some cuts to Ohio early voting," April 17, 2015
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
- ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
- ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
