Ohio absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered Ohio voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Ohio does not allow you to request your ballot online.
You must provide your Ohio driver's license number or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your absentee ballot application. If you do not have either number, you must include a photocopy of a different form of current photo identification. Acceptable forms of ID (must not be expired):
- Ohio driver's license
- State of Ohio ID card
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
- A US passport
- A US passport card
- US military ID card
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
The copy of the photo ID must include images of the front and back, except for a passport which must include the passport's identification page.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 7 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by 1 day before Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
You must include one of the following with your application:
- Last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
- Ohio driver’s license OR non-driver ID number
- Copy of other acceptable photo ID
The copy of the photo ID must include images of the front and back, except for a US passport which must include the passport’s identification page. Acceptable photo IDs include:
- Ohio driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
- US passport or passport card
- Military ID
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
You must provide your Ohio driver's license number or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your identification envelope. If you do not have either number, you must include a photocopy of a different form of current photo identification. Acceptable forms of ID (must not be expired):
- Ohio driver's license
- State of Ohio ID card
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
- A US passport
- A US passport card
- US military ID card
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
The copy of the photo ID must include images of the front and back, except for a passport which must include the passport's identification page.
Track your ballot here: Ohio absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 4th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
- You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if you or your minor child are hospitalized as a result of an accident or a medical emergency occurring before Election Day.
- The application must be in writing and delivered to the board of elections no later than 3PM Election Day.
- The application must include the name of the hospital, the hospitalization date, and the offices you are qualified to vote for.
- You may have a family member retrieve the ballot for you, otherwise the board will arrange for a ballot to be delivered to the hospital for you.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 3PM Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Ohio elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State of Ohio Elections Division 180 E. Broad Street - 15th Floor Columbus, OH 43215