Ohio 2020 Elections Cycle

December 20, 2019

Are you ready to vote in 2020? Your vote is your voice… and your voice matters. To vote, you first must register to vote. Get ready to cast your ballot and make your voice heard. Links are available to check your registration, where you vote and other valuable information!

Election Day, Voter Registration Deadlines, Early/Absentee/Ballot By Mail and Early Voting hours for the 2020 election cycle. Additional special elections may be scheduled. Are you interested in voting from the comfort of your home?  Please contact your local county board of elections for any specific elections information.

ARE YOU READY TO VOTE IN 2020?

Check out: www.IWill Vote.com

Ohio Voter Eligibility and Residency Requirements
NOTE:
17 year olds may register to vote 30 days prior to an election.
If you will be 18 on or before the March 17, 2020, Primary Election Day,
you may vote in the Primary Election and the November 3, 2020, General Election.

Voter Registration (Online)
Voter Registration Form (PDF)

Vote From Abroad

Am I registered to vote?
Am I registered at the right address?
Update Your Ohio Voting Address (Online)
Am I registered under my correct name?
Where do I vote?
What do I need to bring with me to vote?

Ex-Offenders – Find a New Direction: Reclaim Your Right to Vote

2020 ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS

Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Applications for absentee ballots for
2020 elections may be accepted (first day of the year)
To receive your ballot by mail, please print absentee ballot request form.
Then mail or drop off your request form to your local county board of elections office.

2020 VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES
2020 ELECTIONS

Voter Registration Deadline for Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Primary Election:
Thursday, February 18, 2020 | Local County Board of Elections | 8:00am–9:00pm

Voter Registration Deadline for Tuesday, August 4, 2020 Special Election:
(NOTE: Please check with your local county board of elections if Special Election will be held.)
Monday, July 6, 2020 | Local County Board of Elections | 8:00am–9:00pm

Voter Registration Deadline for Tuesday, November 3, 2020 General Election:
Monday, October 5, 2020 | Local County Board of Elections open 8:00am–9:00pm

Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Primary Election Early Voting Hours

Deadline for Voter Registration for Primary Election: Tuesday, February 18, 2020 
Those voters requesting Ballots By Mail:
Ballots will be mailed Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Early/Absentee Voting begins on
Check with your local county board of elections for location(s) for Early/Absentee Voting.
Early/Absentee Voting Hours:
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 – Friday, February 21, 2020 – 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Monday, February 24, 2020 – Friday, Friday, February 28, 2020 – 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Monday, March 2, 2020 – Friday, Friday, March 6, 2020 – 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 7, 2020 – 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Monday, March 9, 2020 – Friday, March 13, 2020
Saturday, March 14, 2020 – 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 15, 2020 – 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Monday, March 16, 2020 – 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Did you receive your ballot by mail?
Check with your local county board of elections for your ballot by mail.
You may drop off your ballot by mail at your local county board of elections
during the times listed above.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Primary Election Election Day Voting

Election Day voting only at your precinct | 6:30am-7:30pm
Not sure where your voting location is located?
Please contact the your local county board of elections
or
visit: www.IWillVote.com

Did you receive your ballot by mail or pickup your ballot
at your local county board of elections?
On Election Day, you MUST drop off your Early/Absentee Ballot
at your local county board of elections, NOT at your precinct.
You may drop off your Early/Absentee Ballot between 6:30am-7:30pm on Election Day.

Did you receive your ballot by mail or pickup your ballot
at your local county board of elections and decided to vote at your precinct?
You will be REQUIRED to vote a provisional ballot at your precinct.
If further questions, please contact your local county board of elections.

ALERT:  PURGING OF VOTERS

Even though it is your right to decide when you want to vote,
more than 1.7 million Ohio voters were removed from voter registration files
by local county boards of elections because of inactivity.
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted purged voters because they chose not to vote.
Were you one of the 1.7 million purged?

To check your voter registration before the next election,
visit your local county board of elections or I Will Vote.

If you arrive at your polling place and cannot be found in the poll book,
thanks to an ACLU of Ohio court victory, you may cast a provisional ballot.
Respectfully, but firmly, insist on your right to a provisional ballot.
If any problems should arise, please call your  local county board of elections immediately.

If you are unable to vote in person because you have a documented disability
that prevents you from appearing at the polls,
call your local county board of elections
right away to request help casting your provisional ballot.

Vote in the comfort of your home?
Request your ballot by mail!
You can do so now!

As of January 1 of every year, all Ohio voters have the opportunity to vote in every election from the convenience of their own homes by requesting an absentee ballot. You MUST request your ballot for, complete and submit a separate application for each election in which you want to vote. Your request must be received by your local county board of elections by noon the third day before the election (usually a Saturday). However, you should submit your request as far in advance of the election as possible to ensure there is sufficient time for the board to mail you a ballot and for you to timely return that ballot.

Steps to request and vote an absentee ballot:

  1. Complete the absentee ballot request form.
  2. Once you have completed your application by providing all of the required information print and sign it.
  3. Mail the request form back to your own county board of elections.
  4. Wait to receive your ballot in the mail from your county board of elections. If you have questions about your absentee ballot request, you should call your local county board of elections.
  5. Return your voted ballot. You can send it by U.S. Mail or deliver it in person to your county board of elections, but the return envelope containing your marked ballot must either be received by your local county board of elections prior to the close of the polls on Election Day, or postmarked no later than the day before the election and received by your local county board of elections no later than seven (7) days after the election.

Note:   Make sure your ballot is counted!

No voted ballot may be returned to a board of elections by fax or e-mail. No voted ballot may be returned to a voting precinct on Election.  If a voted ballot is returned by fax or e-mail or returned to a voting precinct on Election Day, it will not be accepted, processed, or counted.

If you mail your ballot back to your board of elections, take your ballot envelope into your local post office, hand it to the postal clerk and ask to have it postmarked.

NOTE: You can check to ensure your ballot was received and will be counted by your local county board of elections. If any questions about your ballot, please contact your local county board of elections.

Early/In-Person Voting

In Ohio, voters have many options to vote. Starting the day after the close of voter registration, all registered voters may request and vote an absentee ballot in person at their local county board of elections. Hours for early voting are posted above.

Other Absentee Ballot Forms:

Top 10 reasons to vote

10. It’s your right, not a privilege.
Someone paid the price for your right to vote. Use it.

9. It’s your community.
Your neighbors, family, friends are depending on you.

8. It’s your life.
Even if politics seem far away from you, it affects your daily life –
(i.e. local/state taxes, school levies).

7. It’s your education.
From school funding to college grants to job training,
state and federal governments make budget decisions
that have a direct impact on your ability to learn and earn.

6. It’s your body.
From policy to reproductive rights,
the wrong government policies can literally cost you your life.

5. It’s your job.
A raise in the minimum wage, pay equity,
and the right to a union are all being decided now.

4. It’s your environment.
You can vote to invest
in transportation and sustainable energy for our planet.

3. It’s your retirement.
Help make sure that Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
and pension plans will be there for you.

2. It’s your voice.
Collective action starts with voting.
Politicians listen to demands from communities with high voter turnout.

1. Your one vote can make a difference.
75 Ohio races have tied or been decided by a one-vote margin
over the past two years.
One mayoral race, two city council races, one road levy
and a local bond issue made up the closest races
in the May 2015 Primary and Special Election.
One race, in North Ridgeville, Ohio, had to be decided
by the Lorain County Board of Elections with a coin flip.
Republicans want you to stay home
as they continue their attempt to keep people from voting.
Read several articles below on voter suppression:
Voter Suppression During the 2018 Mid-Term Elections | Center for American Progress
Voter Suppression is the New Old Normal | The Atlantic
New Voting Restrictions in America | Brennan Center For Justice
Voter Suppression is a Looming Threat in 2020 Elections | Rewire.news


Any questions about:

when elections are scheduled
filing as a candidate
filing deadlines
campaign finance report
issues
voting location
registration
updating name/address
other election related topics
please contact your local county board of elections.