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:

• VOTER REGISTRATION (ENDS OCT. 6 FOR NOV. 4 ELECTION)
• FACE2FACE CANDIDATE FORUM SAT OCT 4, 2025
• EARLY VOTING & ELECTION CALENDAR
• EARLY VOTING INFORMATION
• ELECTION DAY VOTING LISCENSES/ID CARDS
• VOTE BY MAIL (ABSENTEE VOTING INFO & DEADLINES)
  
• OTHER CHANGES & INFORMATION
  
• YOUR QUESTIONS
  
• VOTE411.ORG
• VOTERS GUIDE
• VOTING TIPS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

 

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

 

 

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.
• 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.

 

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! You do not, however, need to bring the card or add it to your absentee package. Each Residence Hall will post where to vote! And Vote411.org will offer polling location and bios and questions answered by candidates, issues explanation and more. Vote411.org goes live OCTOBER 7. 

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 OHIO ID, or passport to the pre-election site. In Portage County, that is the Board of Elections at 449 S. Meridian St., Ravenna. 
• You can also vote by mail by filling out an Absentee Ballot Request Form. This form requests a ballot either from Kent (Portage County) or from another county that you feel you identify with more than Kent for which you can show a residency. Please check for information on that county's board of election at Vote411.org.
• On your absentee request form, you will see two addresses are needed. By putting both as Kent, it means you just don't want to walk to the polling place or you want more time to study the ballot. On-campus residents should use their dorm name and room number and, if needed, 1375 Eastway as a true mailing address with 44243 zip code. Portage County is Kent's county!
• If your preferred voting place is out of Portage County (KSU), say MAHONING County, or you live out of state but want "that" area's ballot measures rather than Kent's, please use VOTE.GOV to confirm how to vote by mail with a ballot from there sent to you in Kent. Be mindful of return dates. Do it EARLY!
• For apartment residences, please check with your landlord or company to verify your mailing address and ALSO your physical address. (Golden Oaks and other apartments sometimes use your building letter officially).
• All absentee ballots will be sent shortly after Oct. 7 from the Portage County Board of Elections or your county/state of choice.   
• You can print an absentee request 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.  
• Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 to be counted. To make that deadline, we suggest getting it to the library or actually postmarked by Oct. 31. 

Out of state students

• If you are registered in another state you can vote in Ohio elections by registering again in Kent with an Ohio registration form and a local address. But, you can only vote in person with a passport or by switching your ID to Ohio.  
• If you do not want to switch your ID to Ohio, but you want to vote locally, you must request an absentee (mail in) ballot using your KENT ADDRESS. You can vote absentee (mail-in) in OHIO with an Ohio ballot 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. You will receive and return the ballot by mail. Be on the lookout for it via an e-mail from KSU -"You've got mail!" Go get it at the mail center in Eastway. If you register from an apartment, please check with your landlord or rental company so you are using a mailing address that is accurate.
• If you are planning to vote out of state, "back home," be sure to check right away for early voting or vote by mail opportunities. Vote411.org or VOTE.GOV can direct you to your state's website for voting rules.

The Leagues of Kent and Northern Portage County Ohio, in conjunction with the Leagues of Women Voters of Ohio and the US, publish information written and submitted by candidates to help voters.

The downloadable version is available now.  

Submissions are in the candidates' own words.

The League does not edit for content, spelling or grammar.