New mail-in ballot deadline as Ohio changes impact primary election

• Ohio’s primary election is on May 5, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• A new law requires mail-in absentee ballots to be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
• The previous four-day grace period for receiving mail-in ballots after Election Day has been eliminated.

Ohio’s primary election season has begun – Election Day is May 5. Ohio’s candidates are vying for spots on the ballot for the November midterm elections.

That’s nothing new, but Ohio made significant changes to mail-in voting that voters need to know about.

What has changed with Ohio’s mail-in ballots?

Voting through a mail-in ballot? There are some changes voters should know.

Signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine in December 2025, Senate Bill 293 requires absentee ballots to arrive by the close of polls to be counted, with an exception for military and overseas voters.

Any mail-in or absentee ballots must now be received before or on Election Day by 7:30 p.m. in order to be counted. There is no longer a 4-day grace period after Election Day.

The primary election is May 5, and the general election is Nov. 3, 2026.

So, when should you send your mail-in ballot in Ohio? The sooner the better. The U.S. Postal Service does not necessarily postmark your mail the day it is received unless you specifically request it. So, you ballot may not make it to a postal processing center until the day after you drop it in a mailbox.

When does Ohio early voting start? Key dates for early, absentee, mail-in votes

The primary election will be held May 5, 2026, according to this year’s voting schedule.

Early in‑person voting began on April 7, including the Saturday and Sunday before Election Day. Absentee voting by mail also began on April 7.

On Election Day, May 5, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received by your local board of elections by 7:30 p.m., per the voting schedule.

Ohio voter registration deadlines for 2026 elections

Ohioans must register or update their voter registration no later than 30 days before an election. The registration deadline for the May 5 primary was April 6, 2026.

Here are the upcoming voter registration deadlines in 2026:

• April 6, 2026, for the May 5, 2026, primary and special election
• October 5, 2026, for the November 3, 2026, general election

If you register or update your information after the deadline, the changes will apply for the next election.