Enter your address to find your polling place, create your personalized voters' guide and find everything you need to vote! With your personalized guide, you will:
- see everything that will be on your ballot,
- compare candidates' positions side-by-side,
- print out a personalized ballot with your choices to take with you on Election Day.
Print or View the 2023 Lorain County Voter Guide
INFORMATION ABOUT OHIO'S ONLINE AND PAPER VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM
Please Note: The deadline set in the Ohio Constitution to register to vote in the November 7, 2023 General Election was October 10, 2023. That deadline has passed, and registrations for the November 7, 2023 General Election can no longer be accepted.
This system provides a convenient and secure way to:
- Register to vote in Ohio
- Update your voter registration address
Watch this video to see how easy it is to register to vote online.
WHAT YOU NEED
To register online you will need to provide the following:
- Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Address
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
GO TO ONLINE REGISTRATION SITE
If you do not have any portion of the required information, follow this link to update your voting address using our paper form (PDF). Once you complete this form, you must sign and send it to your county board of elections.
If you are a Safe at Home participant, before you proceed, please follow this link to contact the Safe at Home office.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES
Please Note: The deadline set in the Ohio Constitution to register to vote in the November 7, 2023 General Election was October 10, 2023. That deadline has passed, and registrations for the November 7, 2023 General Election can no longer be accepted.
You must register or update your voter registration no later than 30 days prior to an election. Upcoming voter registration deadlines:
- October 10, 2023 for the November 7, 2023 General Election
- February 20, 2024 for the March 19, 2024 Presidential Primary Election
- July 8, 2024 for the August 6, 2024 Special Election
- October 7, 2024 for the November 5, 2024 General Election
If you register or update your information after the deadline, the change will apply for the next election.
HAVE YOU MOVED OUT OF OHIO?
If so, you are encouraged to cancel your Ohio registration by completing the voter registration cancellation form available here (PDF) and mailing it to your county board of elections for the county in which you previously resided. You cannot use this online system to cancel your Ohio voter registration.
To find information on how to register to vote in another state, visit the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s website.
APPLYING FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
In order to receive a vote-by-mail ballot, the voter is responsible for sending an application for that ballot to their county Board of Elections (BOE)
In order to receive a vote-by-mail ballot, the voter is responsible for sending an application for that ballot to their county Board of Elections (BOE)
Lorain County Information:
1985 N. Ridge Rd. East
Lorain, OH 44055
(440) 326-5900
Click here to print the application
OR
Call your local Board of Election to have them mail you an application OR
Mail your BOE a written request stating "I'm requesting an absentee ballot for the November 3rd General Election" with the following information on a blank sheet of paper:
- full name
- date of birth
- full registration address including countyaddress where ballot should be mailed if different from your registration address;
- EITHER your Ohio driver's license number OR your last four of your Social Security number;
- indicate if you want a democratic, republican, libertarian, or issues only ballot. (Primarys only)
- Sign and date the letter. It is recommended to include a phone number and email address.
- Return ballot to your local BOE before they close on election day or you may mail your ballot (with sufficient postage - probably at least 2 first class stamps) at least 7 days (post office recommendation) before election day.
TRACKING MY ABSENTEE BALLOT
Within 3 to 5 days of sending your absentee ballot application and/or your mail-in ballot to the board of elections, its best to check and ensure that your sent mail was received and processed.
To check the status of your ballot, click here and then click on your county to be redirected to right election portal for your place of residence.
VOTER IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS / TYPES OF VALID ID
There are several types of valid photo identification.
- Ohio driver's license;
- State of Ohio ID card;
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
- A US passport;
- A US passport card;
- US military ID card;
- Ohio National Guard ID card; or
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
All photo IDs must have the following:
- An expiration date that has not passed;
- A photograph of the voter;
- The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book
NOTICE: An unexpired Ohio Driver License, State ID Card, or Interim Documentation with your former address IS an ACCEPTABLE form of ID when your current address is in the pollbook.
The BMV issues Ohio Interim Documentation until the applicant receives their new ID through the mail. A driver’s license or state identification card in the old or new format, the Ohio Interim Documentation, and a voter’s old, hole-punched driver’s license or state ID card are acceptable forms of identification for voting, as long as the expiration date has not passed.
If the voter changed their name and provides proof of the legal name change, completes and signs Form 10-L, and is registered within the precinct, the voter’s name on the photo ID may be different from the voter’s reported change of name.
REMEMBER: A voter who moves within the precinct (and completes a Voter Registration Form) or provides proof of legal name change (and completes Form 10-L) votes a regular ballot.
WHERE TO OBTAIN A FREE ID?
Starting April 7, 2023, Ohioans who are 17 years and older can receive a state ID card at no cost from the BMV.
Follow this link to learn more about obtaining an Ohio ID at no cost(opens in a new window).
UNACCEPTABLE TYPES OF ID
Ohio law prohibits acceptance of the following forms of ID:
- Driver’s license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio;
- Social Security card;
- Birth certificate;
- Insurance card;
- Utility bill;
- Bank statement;
- Government check;
- Paycheck;
- Other government document; or
- Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections.
PROVISIONAL BALLOTS
If you do not have any of the above forms of identification, you may cast a provisional ballot.
If you do not provide one of the above forms of photo ID, you will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. However, for that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than four days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification. If you do not have a photo ID because of a religious objection to being photographed, you may complete an affidavit of religious objection and have your provisional ballot count.
Follow this link for more information on provisional ballots.
