Ohio Voter Registration Information

Primary Election
March 6, 2012

Primary Election Voter Registration Deadline
February 6, 2012

General Election
November 6, 2012

General Election Voter Registration Deadline
October 8, 2012

 Voter Registration and Eligibility
In order to vote in an upcoming election, the properly completed voter registration form must be postmarked thirty (30) days before the upcoming election to be valid.

QUALIFICATIONS

To register to vote in the State of Ohio, an individual must meet the following qualifications:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election
• At least 18 years old on or before the day of the general election. If you will be 18 on or before the general election, you may vote in the primary election for candidates, but not on issues
• Not be incarcerated (in prison) for a felony conviction under the laws of the United States, this state or any other state of the United States
• Not have been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court
• You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violations of the election laws.

 OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

You may obtain a form in person, and register in person, at any of the following locations:

• The office of the Secretary of State of Ohio
• The board of elections office in your county (contact information)
• Any Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles office
• Public High Schools or Vocational Schools
• Public libraries
• County treasurer’s office
• Offices of designated agencies that provide public assistance or disability programs

• The Department of Job and Family Services;
• The Department of Health – Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program;
• The Department of Mental Health;
• The Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities;
• The Rehabilitation Services Commission; or
• Any state-assisted college or university that provides assistance to disabled students.

You also may ask a county board of elections (contact information) or the Secretary of State’s office to mail a registration form to you.

Request a voter registration form online here.

OHIO ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Who Can Absentee Vote in Ohio?

Any registered voter  in Ohio whose registration information is up to date may vote by absentee ballot.

How Can I Acquire an Absentee Ballot?

Write or go to the board of elections in your county (contact information) and request an absentee ballot, giving the following information:

• Your name
• Your legal signature
• The address at which you are registered to vote
• Your date of birth
• One of the following:
  1. Your driver's license number; or
  2. The last four digits of your social security number; or
  3. A copy of your current and valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, military identification, or other government document that shows your name and address; including from a public college or university
• A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested;
• A statement that you are a qualified elector;
• If the request is for a primary election ballot, your political party affiliation; and
• If you want the ballots to be mailed, the address to which you want them mailed.

Obtain an application for an absentee ballot online here.

Absentee ballot applications must be received by your county elections by noon on the Saturday before the election.

Additional Information for Overseas Voters

How do I Return the Absentee Ballot and What is the Deadline?

If cast from anywhere in the U.S. and you return it by mail, it must be postmarked* (the day before the election) and received by the board of elections no later than 10 days after the election. If you return it in person or if a near relative delivers it to the board for you, it must be delivered to the board of elections no later than the close of polls on Election Day.

If you are a voter outside the U.S. on Election Day, your ballot envelope must be signed and postmarked by the close of polls on Election Day and received by your county board of elections not later than the 20th day after the presidential primary election or by the 10th day after a special or general election.

If returned in-person to the board of elections, absentee ballots must be received at your local county board of elections on Election Day by the close of the polls.

Source of information:
Ohio Secretary of State
180 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Local: 614-466-2585
Toll free: 1-877-SOS-FILE
1-877-767-3453
[email protected]

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections.aspx

PROTECT YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
BY EXERCISING YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!