How to register to vote in Ohio ahead of Election Day 2024

With the first presidential debate already in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward: Election Day is just over four months away.

Don’t panic. There’s still plenty of time to register to vote; the deadline to register for the Nov. 5 general election is Oct. 7.

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Need to brush up on how to get your name on the voter rolls? Here’s what you need to know:

How to register to vote in Ohio

Ohio residents over the age of 18 can register to vote online, by mail or in person.

Online registration is available on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. You’ll need an Ohio driver’s license or state ID, a valid Ohio address and the last four digits of your Social Security number to register online.

To register by mail, potential voters can fill out a voter registration form and mail it to a county board of election or the secretary of state’s office. You only need a valid Ohio ID or the last four digits of your Social Security number to register this way, along with a valid address.

The requirements for in-person registration are the same as mail registration. To register in person, Ohio residents can visit any of these locations to fill out a form, according to the Ohio Secretary of State:

• The Secretary of State’s office
• Any of the 88 county boards of elections
• The office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Public libraries
• Public high schools or vocational schools
• County treasurers’ offices
• Offices of designated agencies, including:
  • The Department of Job and Family Services
  • The Department of Health (including the Women, Infants and Children [WIC] program)
  • The Department of Mental Health
  • The Department of Developmental Disabilities
  • Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
  • The office of any state-assisted college or university responsible for providing assistance to students with disabilities

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Keep in mind that you have to live in Ohio for at least 30 days before the election to be eligible to vote, so if you’re planning on moving to the Buckeye state in October or November, you’ll be out of luck.

NHart@dispatch.com

@NathanRHart