OHIO'S NEW ELECTION LAWS
At the end of 2022, Ohio's General Assembly passed significant changes to the state's election laws, particularly impacting the kind of ID voters need when voting and shortening the early voting period.
Here's a guide to the biggest changes.
VOTER REGISTRATION
ACCEPTED IDENTIFICATION
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Ohio drivers license or State ID card number- must be issued by the Ohio BMV only
OR -
The last four digits of your social security number
NO LONGER ACCEPTED TO REGISTER TO VOTE
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Military ID
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A copy of a Photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document
MAIL-IN VOTING AKA ABSENTEE VOTING
ID NEEDED TO VOTE BY MAIL
You will write or type these numbers on your request form- you do not have to show a physical copy to get an absentee ballot
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Ohio driver's license number or state ID card number
OR
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Last 4 digits of your Social Security number
REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE
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Here
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If the ballot request form doesn't come directly from the Secretary of State's website, be sure the application says Form 11-A at the top- you can see what it looks like here
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Submit your absentee ballot request by no later than 7 days before the election
RETURN YOUR BALLOT
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By mail
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To your county Board of Elections dropbox
DEADLINES
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By USPS mail: Must be postmarked by the day before the election and received by the 4th day after the election
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Hand-delivered: Must be received by your County Board of Elections by 7:30 pm on Election Day (note: not your polling place)
TRACK YOUR BALLOT REQUEST
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Once you've returned your ballot, you'll also get updates letting you know your Board of Elections has received your ballot, and that your vote has been accounted for
EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING
ACCEPTED ID FOR EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING
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Ohio driver's license or State ID card- must be issued by the Ohio BMV only
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Your card cannot be expired
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It's ok to have an old address on your card
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It's ok to have an Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
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U.S. Military, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs card
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Ohio National Guard card
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U.S. Passport Book or Card
ID NO LONGER ACCEPTED FOR EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING
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Last 4 digits of Social Security number
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Copy of a Photo ID
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Utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document
THERE IS NO LONGER EARLY VOTING ON THE MONDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY
ELECTION DAY VOTING
ACCEPTED ID ELECTION DAY
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Ohio driver's license or State ID card- must be issued by the Ohio BMV only
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Your card cannot be expired
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It's ok to have an old address on your card
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It's ok to have an Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
-
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U.S. Military, or U.S. Deptartment of Veterans Affairs card
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Ohio National Guard card
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U.S. Passport Book or Card
ID NO LONGER ACCEPTED ON ELECTION DAY
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Last 4 digits of Social Security number
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Copy of a Photo ID
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Utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document
POLLING PLACES MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST TIME YOU VOTED
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Polling locations here
OHIO BMV-ISSUED ID CARDS
BEGINNING ON APRIL 7, 2023:
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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
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is not licensed as an operator of a motor vehicle in this or any other state.
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does not hold an identification card from another state.
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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.
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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
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The card is valid and its expiration date is not within 90 days of expiration.
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Their current card indicates the cardholder was a noncitizen
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The applicant is a U.S. citizen at the time of application.
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*** Please note that an ID card is not the same as license and does not grant you the privilege to operate any motor vehicle.
MISCELLANEOUS VOTING LAW CHANGES
PROVISIONAL BALLOTS
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Must be cured by the fourth day after Election Day
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If you voted provisionally on Election Day because there was some question about your ID or something else, be sure to follow up with your county Board of Elections before that 4th Day
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EXCEPTIONS TO THE PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT
Voters with a religious objection to being photographed are exempt from providing a photo ID when voting
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These voters can
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vote with the last four digits of their social security number during early voting or on Election Day
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And must
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sign an "Affidavit of Religious Objection".
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The affidavit and vote will be void if the voter is found to have a currently unexpired photo ID.
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ABSENTEE BALLOTS
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If voters are unable to get your ballot into the mail or take it to the drop box themselves, it's important to know that Ohio law restricts who can help these voters. The following family members are the only people who can provide this assistance to voters:
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father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister of the whole or half blood, or the son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece
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CURBSIDE VOTING
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Curbside Voting is now more prohibitive and only available to voters who are "physically unable to enter the polling place".
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However, a disability claim cannot be contested by an elections official.
Questions? We're happy to help- message us at lwvoinfo [at] lwvohio.org" data-auto-recognition="true">lwvoinfo [at] lwvohio.org
VOTER SERVICE TRAINING: WHAT'S NEW IN OHIO ELECTION CODE
VOTER SERVICE TRAINING VIDEO
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Are you a voter advocate looking to educate and empower your community through Ohio's new voting laws?
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This in depth training will equip voter advocates and community leaders with the knowledge they need to ensure everyone in their community is ready to vote and have their vote counted.
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This training was recorded in February 2023.
