Voting in Ohio

Voting in Ohio

Portage County Board of Elections

This is your QUICK GUIDE to all things in the way Ohioans register to vote and cast their ballots. You'll find information on this page about:

 
register to voter graphic

Voter Registration

You'll need one of the following:

  • A BMV issued Ohio license or ID card number; OR

  • The last four digits of your social security number

​No longer acceptable when registering to vote:

  • Military ID

  • A copy of a Photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document

Click here to register online: https://olvr.ohiosos.gov

 early voting graphic

Early Voting

You'll need one of the following forms of unexpired Photo IDs:

  • BMV issued Ohio license or ID card (old address acceptable)
  • U.S. Military, U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs, or Ohio National Guard card
  • U.S. Passport Book/Card

You can no longer: 

  • Vote with the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
  • Use a copy of a Photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document as a form of ID.
  • Vote on the last Monday before Election Day. 

CHECK HERE for the Early Voting days, dates and times in Portage County.

 election day graphic

Election Day Voting

You'll need one of the following forms of unexpired Photo IDs:

  • BMV issued Ohio license or ID card (old address acceptable)|
  • U.S. Military, U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs, or Ohio National Guard card.
  • U.S. Passport Book/Card.

​You can no longer: 

  • Vote with the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
  • Use a copy of a Photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document as a form of ID.

LICENSES BMV ID CardsBMV Issued Licenses/ID Cards

Beginning on April 7, 2023:

  • Any permanent or temporary resident of Ohio 17 years of age or older qualifies for a BMV issued State ID Card free of charge if that person:

    • is not licensed as an operator of a motor vehicle in this or any other state. 

    • does not hold an identification card from another state.

  • All non-citizens who apply for a license or ID card of any kind will have a notification on their card that indicates they are not a citizen of the United States.

  • Individuals who becomes citizens of the U.S. may qualify for a free replacement of their license/ID card if all of the following is true

    1. The card is valid and its expiration date is not within 90 days of expiration.​

    2. Their current card indicates the cardholder was a noncitizen

    3. The applicant is a U.S. citizen at the time of application. ​

Please note that an ID card is not the same as a license and does not grant you the privilege to operate any motor vehicle.


vote by mail headerVote by Mail

You will now need to:

  • Use an official request form 11-A from the Secretary of State to vote by mail.
  • Submit an absentee ballot application by the 7th day before Election Day, OCt. 29, 2024 for the 2024 General Election on Nov. 5.
  • Deliver your mail ballot in person to your local Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on Election Day OR send it via USPS in which it must be postmarked by the day before Election Day AND received by the 4th day after Election Day. ​

You can now:

  • Use your U.S. Passport Book/Card as a form of ID.​

You can still use the last four digits of your Social Security Number as a form of ID to vote by mail.

​You can no longer: 

  • Use a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document as a form of ID.
  • Request to vote by mail with any written application other than a Form 11-A.
 
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Information & More Changes...

An exception to the photo ID requirement exists for person with a religious objection to being photographed. They can vote with the last four digits of their social security number during early voting or on Election Day AND must sign an "Affidavit of Religious Objection". The affidavit and vote will be void if the voter is found to have a currently unexpired photo ID.​

Curbside Voting is now more prohibitive and only available to voters who are "physically unable to enter the polling place". However, a disability claim cannot be contested by an elections official.

Questions header

Questions

Have more questions? Visit the site of the Portage County Board of Elections at portagecounty-oh.gov/board-elections. You can email us at the League of Women Voters of Kent, lwvkent [at] gmail.com or call us at (330) 271-6188.

vote411.org

Personalized Voting Information for you at  VOTE411.ORG

  • See what's on your ballot

  • Check your voter registration

  • Find your polling place

  • Discover upcoming debates in your area

  • Issue information for Portage County and all of its municipalities              uploaded by the League of Women Voters of Kent and LWV Northern Portage

  • FREE and accessible 24 hours

  • Nonpartisan

  • Candidates enter their own information online

  • And much more to get you ready to vote

  • Click here to go to vote411.org

vote411.org

 Voting tips for University Students

For voting information from Kent State University Libraries, click here:  https://libguides.library.kent.edu/voting.


INFORMATION SUMMARY
All newly registered students

  • Remember that your confirmation postcard with voting location and, if requested, your absentee ballot will come in US mail so be on the lookout!

Vote in person/vote by mail

  • If you vote on election day or in person during early voting, you must take your Ohio driver’s license, state issued ID, or passport to the election site
  • You can also vote by mail by filling out an Absentee Ballot Request Form.
  • You can print one on-line from voteohio.gov, pick it up from the University Library, or ask for one from the voter registration volunteers on campus at the KSU Library. Doing this early and returning it to the library helps assure you’ll get your ballot in time for it to count.

Out of state students

  • If you are registered in another state you can vote in Ohio elections by registering with an Ohio registration form, but you can only vote in person with a passport.
  • You can vote absentee by putting the last 4 digits of your social security number on the Absentee Ballot Request form. Doing this does not jeopardize your out of state driver’s license.
  • If you are planning to vote out of state, be sure to check right away for early voting or vote by mail opportunities. 

  voters guide

  Portage County OH General Election 2024 Voters Guide
available now for download.