Don’t want to wait to early vote in Ohio? Here are ways to beat the lines at the polls now.
A record number of voters turned out for advanced voting in Ohio, with some counties seeing long lines and extended wait times.
Early voting opened Tuesday, Oct. 8, and continues until Sunday, Nov. 3. Accounting for the amount of voters who have already turned out, many voters want to avoid crowds or need a more convenient time to accommodate their schedule.
If you want to make your early voting experience as hassle-free as possible, there are some things you can do.
Avoid peak voting hours
The first and last day of early voting tend to be the busiest, but there are certain times when the poll traffic will be high.
Weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Midday lunch hours
After work hours
Know the polling location
Unlike the general election, you are not assigned a polling place for early voting, so you must vote at the poll designated for early voting. In Mahoning County it is:
Mahoning County Board of Elections
345 Oak Hill Ave., Entrance A
Youngstown, OH 44502
Phone: (330) 783-2474
Early voting ends on the Sunday immediately before Election Day, and you can go on the second and third weekends before Nov. 4.
Some counties (including Mahoning) allow for Sunday voting, but you should check with your local election board to see if it applies to your area.
Know when the polls open and close
Early voting hours vary throughout the voting period, so you should familiarize yourself with the schedules.
The early voting hours vary throughout the voting period
- From Oct. 8-18: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekdays
- From Oct. 21-25: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekdays
- Extended hours are available on certain days closer to Election Day
Vote on the weekends
Weekend voting is also available.
- Saturday, Oct. 26: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 27: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 2: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 3: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Be prepared
Make sure to bring the necessary identification documents with you to speed up the process. In Ohio, you may present one of the following forms of ID:
- Ohio driver’s license
- Ohio state ID card
- Interim identification form issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. military ID card
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card (must include voter’s name and photograph)
Stay informed
Staying informed could keep you from following bad or outdated information and slowing the process down further. In some areas, the local election board’s social media could be a valuable resource.
In Mahoning County, you can visit their Facebook Page for up-to-date alerts and news.
Continue to check with Mahoning Matters for the latest in election news through the early voting period to Election Day coverage.