Voting & Elections Toolkits: Voter Registration in Ohio

Eligibility

• Age: At least 18 years old on or before the day of the next general election. (If you will be 18 on or before the general election, you may vote in the primary election to nominate candidates, but you cannot vote on issues or party central committees until you are 18)
• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
• Residence: You will be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election in which you want to vote
• Formerly incarcerated individuals: Not incarcerated (in prison or jail) for a felony conviction under the laws of this state, another state, or the United States
• You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court
• You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violating the election laws
• Check the voter search site to see if you are already registered

For more information, please visit the Ohio Secretary of State website.

Deadlines

• Voter registration deadline is no later than 30 days prior to an election:
  • April 6, 2026 for the May 5, 2026 Primary and Special Election
  • July 6, 2026 for the August 4, 2026 Special Election
  • October 5, 2026 for the November 3, 2026 General Election
• If you register or update your information after the deadline, the change will apply for the next election
• Frequently Asked Questions
• 2026 Election Voting Schedule
• NOTE: Ohio does not allow same-day voter registration 

Online registration

To use the online voter registration system you must have a current Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number, name, date of birth, address, and last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Online registration form (in English and Spanish)

Mail-in registration

Printable form

Refer to the box below for information about ID requirements.

Choosing a political party:   

Under Ohio election law, you declare your political party affiliation by requesting the ballot of a political party in a partisan primary election.

If you do not wish to affiliate with a political party in Ohio, you are considered to be an unaffiliated voter. An unaffiliated voter does not vote the ballot of a political party in a primary election. However, an unaffiliated voter may vote the Official Questions & Issues Ballot if there is one for the voter's precinct at the election.

Updating registration      

To update registration after a move or name change, use the voter registration form:

Online registration form (in English and Spanish)

Mail-in registration form

Cancelling registration

County Boards of Elections Directory: Each of Ohio’s 88 counties has a Board of Elections (BOE) office that is responsible for administering local elections. For addresses and contact information see the County Boards of Elections Directory.

To cancel your Ohio registration, complete the voter registration cancelation form and mail it to your county board of elections.

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