Register to vote or update your registration in Ohio

Voter registration deadlines in Ohio are as follows:

• Online: 30 days before Election Day
• By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
• In person: 30 days before Election Day

You can check your Ohio voter registration using the Ohio voter registration lookup site.

In order to register to vote in Ohio, you must meet these requirements:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be 18 years old by the next General Election
• be a resident of Ohio for the 30 days before Election Day
• not be incarcerated for a felony conviction (if you have been convicted of violating Ohio's election laws three or more times, you must receive a pardon in order to be eligible to vote)
• not have been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court.

Yes. You can register online if you have an Ohio driver’s license or non-driver ID card. You must also provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.

Here are the instructions for registering online:

1. Visit the Ohio online voter registration site.
2. Fill out all the required fields.
3. You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.

The deadline to register to vote online is 30 days before Election Day.

Yes. Follow the instructions below to register via mail in Ohio:

1. Download and fill out the National Voter Registration form.
2. Box 6 - ID Number: Your Social Security number is requested. Providing this number is voluntary. This information allows the Board of Elections to verify your registration if necessary. Federal law requires that you provide your driver’s license number to register to vote. If you do not have a driver’s license then you will have to provide at least the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don’t have either number you will have to write “NONE” on the form and the State will assign you a number.
3. Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a party in order to take part in that party’s primary election. Party affiliation is established by voting at a primary election.
4. Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
5. Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
6. Mail your voter registration form to your local election office.

Your voter registration must be postmarked by 30 days before Election Day.

Yes. Contact your local election office to find out where to register in person.

Bring your Ohio driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Ohio address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.

The deadline to register in person is 30 days before Election Day.

Unfortunately, no. In Ohio, you must register in advance of Election Day. See voter registration deadlines here.

Yes. Whenever you move, you need to register to vote with your new address.

General voter registration deadlines are listed above. If you moved to a new state, you must register with the new state before the registration deadline in order to be able to vote in that state for the upcoming election. If you moved within a state and the registration deadline has passed, you may still be able to vote, depending on the type of election and your state’s rules. Check with your local election office for more information.

Online

Ohio offers online voter registration, but if you just moved, you might not be eligible to use it.

You can register online if you have an Ohio driver’s license or non-driver ID card. You must also provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.

The deadline to register online is 30 days before Election Day.

By mail

1. Download and fill out the National Voter Registration form.
2. Box 6 - ID Number: Your Social Security number is requested. Providing this number is voluntary. This information allows the Board of Elections to verify your registration if necessary. Federal law requires that you provide your driver’s license number to register to vote. If you do not have a driver’s license then you will have to provide at least the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don’t have either number you will have to write “NONE” on the form and the State will assign you a number.
3. Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a party in order to take part in that party’s primary election. Party affiliation is established by voting at a primary election.
4. Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
5. Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
6. Mail your voter registration form to your local election office.

Your voter registration must be postmarked by 30 days before Election Day.

In person

Contact your local election office to find out where to register in person.

Bring your Ohio driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Ohio address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.

The deadline to register in person is 30 days before Election Day.

You can register now in Ohio if you will be 18 by the next major election on November 3, 2026 (as long as the registration deadline for that election has not passed).

• Your registration will activate automatically on your 18th birthday.
• Our FutureVoter tool can walk you through the process.

Voting rights are restored automatically upon release from prison. You can register to vote unless you have multiple convictions for violating Ohio election laws.

Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information. They have attorneys on staff who can guide you.

Use this tool to look up contact information for your local election office.

The statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Ohio elections is listed below. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.

Elections Division  
180 E. Broad Street - 15th Floor  
Columbus, OH 43215  

Phone: (614) 466.2585
Toll Free: 877-SOS-OHIO (877.767.6446 x1)

Email: election@OhioSoS.gov

Ohio operates the following voter tools:

• Ohio online voter registration
• Ohio voter status lookup
• Ohio absentee ballot tracker
• Ohio polling place locator

Information on this page comes from Ohio state statutes or guidance from Ohio election authorities. The following links have more information:

• Ohio early voting information
• Ohio absentee ballot information
• Ohio voter registration information
• Ohio voter ID information
• Ohio student voter information
• Ohio voting rights restoration for voters with felony convictions