Written by Jillian Holness

The 2024 Presidential election is on Tuesday, November 5, and It’s important now more than ever to cast your vote. Here is a guide to help get you election-ready.

Voter Registration and Eligibility

Before going to the polls, the first step is reviewing your eligibility and registering to vote. 

The  Ohio Secretary of State’s website lists the qualifications to vote according to the following; 

  1. You are a citizen of the United States;

  2. You will be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the next general election. (If you will be 18 on or before the general election, you may vote in the primary election to nominate candidates, but you cannot vote on issues or party central committees until you are 18);

  3. You will be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election in which you want to vote;

  4. You are not incarcerated (in prison or jail) for a felony conviction under the laws of this state, another state, or the United States;

  5. You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court; and

  6. You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violating the election laws.

Next, you can register online, update your address, and check your status at Ohio Secretary of State From there, you’ll need to enter your Ohio driver’s license or state identification number and the last four digits of your social security card. For assistance with obtaining a photo id, fill out a request form at  VoterRiders.Org, 

You can also grab a physical copy of the voter registration form and register to vote in person at the following locations:

  • Job and Family Services

  • Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

  • The office of any of the 88 county boards of elections;

  • Public libraries

  • The Department of Health (including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program)

  • The Department of Mental Health;

  • The Department of Developmental Disabilities;

  • Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

  • Your local county treasurer’s office

Once completed, you may mail the form or drop it off to your nearest county board of elections or the Secretary of State’s Office. 

The deadline to register to vote for the general election is October 7.

Find Your Polling Location

Enter your home address at your local county’s Board of Elections website to see a list of locations near you. You can cast your vote between 6:30 AM and 7:30 PM. The Cleveland Votes 2024 Election Guide states, if you’re in line by 7:30 PM and still haven’t completed your ballot, you still have the right of vote. If a poll worker tries to turn you away, call or text, 866-OUR-VOTE, and a trained volunteer can help you report and resolve it. Don’t forget to bring your ID.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

  • Ohio Driver’s License

  • Ohio Identification Card

  • An interim Identification Form Issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles

  • A US passport or passport card

  • A US military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or US Department of Veteran’s Affairs ID card

No Longer Accepted Forms of ID in Ohio:

  • Utility or cell phone bill

  • Paycheck or government check

  • Bank statement

  • Government bank from Social Security or Ohio Jobs and Family Services

  • Student ID or county military ID

Request an Absentee Ballot

If you cannot travel to your local polling site, you can request an absentee ballot and vote in your home. This option is especially useful for out-of-state college students or disabled voters.

Steps to request and vote an absentee ballad

  1. Print out and complete the absentee ballot request form. The deadline to request the form is seven days before the election. 

  2. Mail or hand deliver the form to your local county board of elections. If mailing, check the instructions on your ballot to determine how much postage is needed

  3. Wait and receive your ballad in the mail. You can track the status of your ballot request as well as well as your voted absentee ballot

  4. .Return your ballet to the county board of elections. Ballots must be received no later than 7:30 PM on Election Day.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions listed in the Cleveland Votes’ 2024 Election Guide.

  1. I’m disabled. What are my voter rights? 

If you have a disability and want to vote in person, Ohioans have the right to accessible polling locations that are free of any barriers to their entrances and exits  These locations must have ramps, wide doors, and accessible parking.

Voters also have access to several different types of assistive voting technologies such as; 

  • Braille and tactile lettering audio ballots,

  •  Zoom screen/large print text Screen/text color contrast Screen height or tilt adjustments

  •  Sip/puff navigation Touch screen 

  • Push button navigation 

Voters with disabilities can also bring someone with them if they need assistance during the voting process (such as a family member, friend, or health aide). Election workers can provide assistance if voters aren’t able to bring someone. 

Curbside voting is another option available to voters. Two poll workers from opposite parties will bring a ballot to you. Voters have the option to sit in their vehicle to vote or vote at the door of the early voting location. They can also send in a representative to let election workers know they need help. If you’re voting early and opt for curbside voting, you must call the location before your arrival so election workers can make the necessary arrangements. On election day, calling ahead is not a requirement but is recommended as a courtesy for curbside voting. 

For additional information, check out the Voters with Disabilities webpage

2. What should I do If I want to register to vote but want to keep my address private?

When you register to vote, your information becomes available on voter registration lists, public records, and the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. However, there are instances where privacy is needed. If you have been a victim of domestic violence, sexual battery, rape, human trafficking, or menacing by stalking, Ohio’s Safe at Home Program ensures that your private information stays hidden from public records. 

According to the Ohio Safe at Home webpage, When a person enrolls as a participant in Safe at Home, the Secretary of State’s office does all of the following:

  • Assigns them a substitute address to serve as their address in virtually all state and local public records. This substitute address is used in almost every type of government office – from law enforcement issuing a speeding ticket to public school records, to court documents.

  • Provides them with mail forwarding to help keep their home address away from private companies. Participants choose if they would like to use the mail forwarding system, or if they would like to provide their true address for mail – the choice is entirely up to them. However, Safe at Home will provide this option for as long as the person remains in the program.

  • Provides a special confidential voter registration form. A person who is otherwise eligible to vote can participate in the democratic process without fear of their address becoming public. Their voter registration information will not appear on public voter registration lists, and they can vote by mail to avoid any disclosure.

  • Provides information about a legal pathway to protect real estate records for those who would like to buy a home. Ohio’s Safe at Home laws convert records held by a county recorder, auditor, engineer, and others to a confidential status.

To join the program, survivors must apply through a certified Application Assistant who works or volunteers at an agency or organization that helps survivors of domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, rape, or sexual battery. These assistants receive supplemental training and are certified by the Secretary of State to vet and help individuals complete their program applications.

3. I’m a college student, how can I still vote?

If you’re currently living on or near your college campus during the school, you can still vote by registering your permanent address as your voting address and requesting an absentee ballad. 

You can also vote in person 28 days before the election at your voting address’ local board of elections. 

Voting from your campus address is also available. Review the registration requirements. If you are eligible and choose to vote in the election from your campus community, you must fill out a new voter registration form at least 30 days before the election using your campus address. This will cancel your hometown registration as you can only vote once in any given election

For out of state college students who want to vote in person, be sure to cancel your Ohio voter’s registration and register to vote in your new state

4. Can I vote If I have been convicted of a crime?
If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor, you have the right to vote, even if you are incarcerated. If you have been arrested for a felony but have not been convicted, you still have the right to vote. And if you are on parole or probation, live in a halfway house, or are on house arrest, you have the right to vote. Once you are out of jail or prison for a felony conviction, you must re-register to vote, even if you were previously registered. The only time you may not vote is if you are currently incarcerated on a felony conviction. But, you regain the right to vote once you are released. Just re-register at voteohio.gov. 

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