# Voting procedures in Ohio **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 18, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088 "2012-09-18T18:12:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/1 "2012-09-18T18:12:45Z")
This is more of a MPSIMS than a GD, but with voting procedures being in flux, I thought it was worth sharing. I’m in Ohio and we all got letters with an application for absentee voting along with dates for updating our voting info and turning them in and such. We have in-person absentee voting as well, if we want to go down to the board of elections and do it by hand. This is Ohio’s version of early voting. I have a chronic foot injury that makes standing in line a misery but I think I’ll probably vote in person on Election day. If we can get there about 10am we can maybe miss the before-work and lunchtime crowds. If you are in Ohio and want to check that your voting information is correct or if you have questions about the locations and procedures, please check this website: [http://www.MyOhioVote.com](http://www.MyOhioVote.com) **October 9** - Deadline to register or update your information **October 2 - November 2 (6pm)** - In-person absentee voting (Early voting) at your county board of elections. Hours will vary - contact your [county board for details.](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electionsofficials/boeDirectory.aspx#dir) **November 3, (Noon)** - deadline for requesting an absentee ballot **November 6** - Election day, polls open 6am - 7:30pm. Double check with your [county board of elections](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electionsofficials/boeDirectory.aspx#dir) if you have questions. Here is a link for finding your polling location if you’re unsure where to go: [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/pollinglocation.aspx?page=361](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/pollinglocation.aspx?page=361) Here is a FAQ for Ohio voting procedures: [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/FAQ/procedures.aspx](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/FAQ/procedures.aspx) Finally, here is information about the ID requirements for in-person voting: > [@](#): > > Will I need an ID to Vote? > > Yes. All voters must bring acceptable identification to the polls in order to verify their identity. [Click here for a list of acceptable forms of identification.](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/FAQ/ID.aspx) > > A voter presenting an Ohio driver’s license that shows the voter’s former address is permitted to cast a regular ballot so long as the voter’s current residential address is printed in the official poll list of registered voters for that precinct. > > Voters who do not provide one of these documents at the precinct will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a Social Security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation statement swearing to the voter’s identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot. Here, since I’m doing all the cutting and pasting anyway so what the heck, is the acceptable ID list: [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/FAQ/ID.aspx](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/FAQ/ID.aspx) > [@](#): > > The forms of identification that may be used by a voter who appears at a polling place to vote on an Election Day include: > > ``` > A current and valid photo identification card issued by the State of Ohio or the United States government; or > A military identification ("military ID"); or > An original or copy of a current utility bill; or > An original or copy of a current bank statement; or > An original or copy of a current government check; or > An original or copy of a current paycheck; or > An original or copy of a current other government document, other than a voter registration acknowledgement notification mailed by the board of elections, that shows the voter’s name and current address. > > ``` > > A voter presenting an Ohio driver’s license that shows the voter’s former address is permitted to cast a regular ballot so long as the voter’s current residential address is printed in the official poll list of registered voters for that precinct. Voters who do not provide one of these documents at the precinct will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a Social Security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation statement swearing to the voter’s identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot. > > For Voter I.D. purposes “current” means the document was issued on a date within one year immediately preceding the date of the election at which the voter seeks to vote, or has on it an expiration date which has not passed as of the date of the election in which the voter seeks to vote. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/2 "2012-09-19T02:31:24Z")
This is another URL (I couldn’t get the one you posted to work): [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters.aspx](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters.aspx) I just checked my registration. I’ve been registered for over 10 years and voted in the primaries. Well, according to the web site, I am NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE. So, I’m printing a new registration form to take down to the elections office. To be safe – DOUBLE CHECK your REGISTRATION STATUS ! ! ! ! ---
**Author:** ![Ruby\_Slippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/94ad74/32.png) [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/3 "2012-09-19T10:33:40Z")
I doublechecked and verified that I am indeed registered. I better be – I’ve signed up to be a pollworker on election day. And I’ve been reminded by several associates, most of whom are Republicans, that I can’t say or do or wear anything that shows my support for Democrats. I expect to go to a training session soon, and I assume I’ll get a list of acceptable IDs. I hope my fellow Buckeyes will get out there and VOTE! ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/4 "2012-09-19T12:31:45Z")
Cool. I signed up at a voter registration drive a week or two ago. Checked to make sure I was registered and indeed I was. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/5 "2012-09-19T16:45:08Z")
Perhaps the OP and added info for other states could be put in a single thread pinned to the top of Elections until the election. No doubt, requirements vary widely state to state. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/6 "2012-09-19T16:56:52Z")
> [@Enkel](#): > > This is another URL (I couldn’t get the one you posted to work): [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters.aspx](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters.aspx) > > I just checked my registration. I’ve been registered for over 10 years and voted in the primaries. Well, according to the web site, I am NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE. So, I’m printing a new registration form to take down to the elections office. > > To be safe – DOUBLE CHECK your REGISTRATION STATUS ! ! ! ! Oh, dammit. The first link is not supposed to be My Vote Ohio, like I typed, it’s supposed to be [http://www.MyOhioVote.com](http://www.MyOhioVote.com) Thanks for the correction, Enkel! I’ve asked a mod to edit the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby\_Slippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/94ad74/32.png) [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/7 "2012-09-19T17:17:50Z")
That link ([myohiovote.com](http://myohiovote.com)) still doesn’t work. I even tried going to google and searching. The website came up on the list but clicking still didn’t work. So I clicked on a link to a Columbus Dispatch article about the site, then clicked the link in the article. It worked, but as a redirect to the Secretary of State website posted by Enkel. Jon Husted really doesn’t want us to know our status. \ ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/8 "2012-09-19T17:30:17Z")
> [@Ruby\_Slippers](#): > > Jon Husted really doesn’t want us to know our status. \ He’s making Ohio a full service state. Come Nov 10th, he’ll send you an email and let you know who you voted for. **Goooooo [SIZE=“4”]Diebo[/SIZE]ld**! ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/9 "2012-09-19T18:23:23Z")
Well, I’m not sure what the deal is now, Ruby. The new url - [myohiovote.com](http://myohiovote.com) works for me. Basically it redirects to the link Enkel posted, which is hard to remember. Maybe your browser is preventing the redirect? But if there’s any doubt, hit the link Enkel posted, that one definitely works: [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters.aspx](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/10 "2012-09-20T00:29:02Z")
So, did the thing with early voting ever get cleared up, then? I’m planning on voting in person on voting day, just to be sure, but it’s still important information. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/11 "2012-09-20T02:24:00Z")
The liberal absentee voting rules are one of the few things I miss from Ohio, right after Skyline Chili, Dewey’s Pizza and Aglameci’s Bros. ice cream… ---
**Author:** ![Ruby\_Slippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/94ad74/32.png) [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/12 "2012-09-20T09:49:55Z")
For anyone who may have already received an absentee ballot, I just saw a week-old item saying that the Republiccan-dominated Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that the ballot language explaining Issue 2 (redistricting commission) must be re-written because the language provided by Republican Secretary of State was misleading and slanted. Basically, they oppose this issue, which will create a bi-partisan commission to oversee redistricting. It’s a way to prevent gerrymandering. If you want to see a perfect example of a gerrymandered district, look at John Boehner’s congressional district. If you’d like to see these districts drawn more fairly and reasonably, vote Yes on Issue 2. (At least I hope they don’t change it so that you have to vote no if you want it to pass. They’ve done that before.) ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-procedures-in-ohio/635088/13 "2012-11-02T16:39:54Z")
Just a reminder: **If you’re voting absentee** - The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is Saturday, November 3, at Noon. - If you’re mailing your absentee ballot, it must be postmarked by Monday, November 5. For more about absentee ballots see here: [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters/absentee/absenteeMailing2012.aspx](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters/absentee/absenteeMailing2012.aspx) **If you’re voting Early In Person, (dress warmly!)** The hours for this weekend are: Friday, November 2: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, November 3: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 4: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, November 5: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Early in person voting locations are at your county board of elections - [click here for that information](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/electionsofficials/boeDirectory.aspx#dir) - **EXCEPT** Delaware, Franklin & Lucas counties. For those three counties, it’s this: > [@](#): > > Delaware County: > Delaware County Board of DD > 149 East Orange Road, Lower Level > Lewis Center, Ohio 43035 > More information: (740) 833-2080 or > [www.co.delaware.oh.us/boe/](http://www.co.delaware.oh.us/boe/) > > ``` > Franklin County: > 1700 Morse Road > Columbus, Ohio 43224 > More information: (614) 525-3100 or > vote.franklincountyohio.gov > > Lucas County: > Summit Plaza > 1500 North Superior Street > Toledo, Ohio 43604 > (N. Superior & Bush, near Summit Adjacent to the YMCA) > More information: (419) 213-4001 or > www.lucascountyvotes.org > > ``` **If you’re voting on Election Day** - Check here to find your polling place [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/pollinglocation.aspx?page=361](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/pollinglocation.aspx?page=361) - You **WILL** need ID [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/FAQ/ID.aspx](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/FAQ/ID.aspx) Here’s a list of ID choices: > [@](#): > > [ul] > [li] A current and valid photo identification card issued by the State of Ohio or the United States government; or[/li] [li] A military identification (“military ID”); or[/li] [li] An original or copy of a current utility bill; or[/li] [li] An original or copy of a current bank statement; or[/li] [li] An original or copy of a current government check; or[/li] [li] An original or copy of a current paycheck; or[/li] [li] An original or copy of a current other government document, other than a voter registration acknowledgement notification mailed by the board of elections, that shows the voter’s name and current address.[/ul][/li] Here is the Ohio voter’s info page, for bonus readings: [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections.aspx](http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections.aspx)