Changes to Ohio Voting Laws | OCE Partnership to Promote Civic and Voter Engagement | Important Election Dates | 2023 Voter Registration Tables | Recommended Non-Partisan Resources | The OCE Wants CSU Students to Make a Plan to Vote in 2023 | Partners | Check Your Voter Registration Status and Find Your Polling Location | Archive |
Attention! Changes to Ohio Voting Laws
Governor DeWine signed House Bill 458 on January 6, 2023. New voting laws have been enacted changing acceptable forms of ID used to vote, deadlines to request Vote by Mail (absentee voting) and return them, and eliminating a day of Early Voting. These changes are effective April 7, 2023. Read More. »
The Office of Civic Engagement is Partnering with the Michael Schwartz Library to Promote Civic and Voter Engagement
The OCE has partnered with the Michael Schwartz Library to bring nonpartisan, reliable voting information to CSU students! Check out MSL's Democracy 101 Guide and Voting Research Guide as you prepare to exercise your most important right, casting your ballot in 2023.
May 2, 2023 Primary Election
Spring 2023 Semester Voter Registration Tables with Our Civic Partner Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates (NOVA)
Recommended Non-Partisan Resources on Candidates, Elections, and Voting
1. Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page
Ballotpedia is a non-partisan database with information on elections, candidates, and voting. Candidate’s biographies, positions held, and issue stances are all included in this database.
2. The Ohio Secretary of State’s Website: https://www.sos.state.oh.us
The Ohio Secretary of State is the chief election official for the State of Ohio. This website contains election day information, resources to register to vote or update your registration online, and forms for absentee ballot requests. This website is an excellent resource for Ohio residents.
3. The League of Women Voters: https://www.lwv.org
The League of Women Voters is a resource for men and women to obtain non-partisan information and resources about: registering to vote, finding your polling place, information about your ballot, and current issue information.
4. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections: https://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/
A great non-partisan local election resources for residents of Cuyahoga County and the State of Ohio.
5. The Federal Election Commission: https://www.fec.gov
A non-partisan national resource for campaign finance information, election law, and important election related dates, and deadlines.
6. VOTE411: www.VOTE411.org
A non-partisan online voter guide that includes information on candidates and issues, both local and national.
7. VoteRiders: www.VoteRiders.org
A non-profit organization that can assist with questions related to what is considered an acceptable form of ID to cast a ballot in not only an Ohio election but any other state.
8. Vote.org: https://www.vote.org/
Vote.org is a national non-partisan resource for those seeking information on election day information, resources to register to vote or update your registration online, and forms for absentee ballot requests. This is an excellent resource for those who reside outside of Ohio.
The OCE Wants CSU Students to Make a Plan to Vote in 2023
NEW VOTER ID REQUIREMENT FOR ELECTION DAY!
Due to these new voting laws in Ohio, only 4 types of VALID PHOTO IDs are accepted.
You need 1 form to cast a regular ballot on Election Day.
- An unexpired Ohio driver’s license
- An unexpired Ohio ID card
- An unexpired U.S. Passport
- Military ID card that includes your name & photograph (U.S. Military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card)
You CAN NO LONGER USE bank statements, paychecks, government checks, or utility bills to vote in Ohio.
CHANGES TO VOTE BY MAIL (ABSENTEE VOTING) IN OHIO
- Vote by Mail requests must be made 7 days before Election Day. (It was 3 days before Election Day.)
- Your absentee ballot must be received by the 4th day after Election Day. (It was the 10th day after Election Day.)
- If the Board of Elections has issues with your ballot, they must be resolved up to 4 days after Election Day. (It was 7 days after Election Day.)
CHANGES TO OHIO EARLY VOTING AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
You CAN NO LONGER VOTE at an Ohio Board of Elections the Monday before Election Day. (Previously, the Board of Elections was open 6 hours for early voting the Monday before Election Day.)
***For now, FOLLOW the above guidelines. These laws are subject to change due to pending legal challenges to House Bill 458.
After reviewing the information and resources above, you are now ready to Make a Plan to Vote! Review the steps below to know what to expect when you cast your ballot in this year's May Primary Election or this year's November General Election.
1. Decide if you want to vote by mail or vote in person. Remember, if you choose to vote by mail, the deadline to request a ballot is the Saturday before Election Day at noon. If you plan to vote in person, make sure you locate your polling location (resources listed above, included in the Check Your Voter Registration Status and Find Your Polling Location section, will help you find your polling place).
2. Make sure to have the proper materials handy for voting by mail or for in-person voting.
a. For voting by mail, you will need your Ohio Driver’s License, State ID, OR your social security number. Make sure to have the proper postage to mail your ballot back to your local board of elections or drop it off at the Board of Election before polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. All mail in ballots must be postmarked in Ohio the day before Election Day.
b. If you plan to vote in person, be sure to check your voter registration status (resources listed above in the Check Your Voter Registration Status and Find Your Polling Location section). Make sure to bring an approved ID. Check out www.VoteRiders.org for a list of valid IDs. Plan to possibly have a wait in line to cast your ballot in person. Give yourself an hour window, at minimum, to ensure you have plenty of time to vote. Polling places in Ohio will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you are in line to vote by 7:30 p.m., you CANNOT be turned away from your polling place.
Reminders for Both the May Primary and the November General Election
When the time comes to cast your ballot, make sure you are aware of the proper procedure to do so. If you are voting by mail, use blue or black ink to fill out your ballot and make sure to follow the enclosed instructions carefully to ensure you complete all required steps. If you are voting in person, be prepared to vote via paper ballot or electronic voting machine. Poll workers will be available to assist you if you have any questions at your in-person polling location.
For more information about the OCE at CSU, please contact Anita Ruf-Young, Director, at a.rufyoung@csuohio.edu. View our Recent News, follow us on Twitter (@CSUcivic), Instagram (csucivicengagement), or Facebook (Office of Civic Engagement at Cleveland State University).
Work as an Election Day Poll Worker or an Election Night Ballot Box Opener
Each election, thousands of Ohioans dedicate themselves to sustaining the backbone of democracy—our election process. Poll workers and Election Night Ballot Box Openers are essential to ensuring that our elections are fair, and in doing so, maintain the traditions of our past and our hope for the future. Be part of something big. Sign up to be a poll worker or ballot box opener and help your community run a safe, secure, and accurate election!
For more information please contact Anita Ruf-Young at a.rufyoung@csuohio.edu.
Office of Civic Engagement Partners
OCE partners with numerous local, state, and national non-partisan voter and civic engagement organizations so that we can engage and connect CSU students to information and opportunities in these areas.
