Is it too late to register to vote? Here’s what to know about voter rules in Ohio
If you’re not registered to vote in the presidential election, it’s not too late to do so, but now is the time to take action to do your civic duty.
Legally, voters can register up to 30 days before the election, which is Monday, Oct. 7, but depending on how you register, it could take longer than expected.
To qualify to vote, you must meet the following requirements for the state of Ohio:
Be a citizen of the United States for at least 30 days before the election
Be a legal resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election
Be at least 18 to vote by the time of the election
Not be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
Not have been declared mentally incompetent to vote by a judge
Not have been permanently disenfranchised for violations of election laws
To register to vote online, you should visit the Ohio Secretary of State website. You must have the following information available:
Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number
Your name
Your date of birth
Your address
The last four digits of your Social Security number
Registration by mail
If you want to register to vote by mail, you have to consider the amount of time the postal system takes to process the registration and factor that into the deadline of Monday, Oct. 7.
The steps are fairly simple, but there isn’t much room for error once you pop it in the mail.
Download and complete the voter application form from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.
Make sure all the information is correct and validated. Errors could delay the process and potential voters could miss the deadline.
Mail the completed application to the Mahoning County Board of Elections at:
345 Oak Hill Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44502
(330)783-2474
The application must be postmarked by the deadline of Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
In-person registration
The same requirements needed to register by mail must be presented to register in person, but you have a few options. You can download the application from the internet ahead of time to present to the local board of elections at the above address or you can complete the application on site.
Absentee ballots
Any registered Ohio voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail, as long as the request is submitted at least seven days prior to Election Day. There are no specific eligibility requirements or excuses needed to vote absentee.
You need only to present your Ohio driver’s license number and the last four digits of your social security number. If you don’t have either of these an alternate form of identification will be required.
Examples of accepted identification:
Ohio driver’s license
State of Ohio ID card
Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
U.S. passport or passport card
U.S. military ID card
Ohio National Guard ID card
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
If you mail your absentee ballot, it must be postmarked no later than the day before Election Day, and received by the Election Board no later than four days after Election Day.
If you plan to submit your ballot in person or to the ballot drop box, it must be delivered to the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Your vote must be received by the County Board of Registrars by the time the polls close on Election Day, which in Ohio is 7:30 p.m. EST.
This story was originally published September 6, 2024 at 1:28 PM