You are qualified to vote if:
• You are a citizen of the United States.
• You are at least 18 years old on or before the day of the general election. If you will be 18 on or before November 2nd, you may vote in the primary election for candidates only, but not on issues.
• You will be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election.
• You register to vote at least 30 days before the election.

How residence is determined:
By law your residence is the place to which, whenever you are absent, you have the intent to return. If you continuously reside outside of Ohio for a period of four years or more, you are not a resident of this state for voter registration purposes, except if you are absent from Ohio because of federal or state government employment, including military service. Leaving for temporary purposes, such as school attendance, does not result in a change of residence for voting purposes, unless you register in the area where you are currently residing.

Students voting from their school address:
If the student regards that place as his/her residence and registers to vote, they can vote from their school address. Otherwise, the student must vote in his/her home community if registered.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Does everyone have to be registered?
Yes, except for members of the armed forces serving on active duty. Their spouses and dependents are also exempt if they left Ohio to be near the service member.

Where can I register?
• At any county board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office.
• At branch registration offices or locations established by a board of elections.
• At any public high school or vocational school.
• At the office of any Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
• At offices of designated agencies which provide public assistance or disability programs.
• Public libraries.
• County treasurer’s office.
• By mail. You may request a registration form from a board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office by mail, telephone, in person or by having another person obtain it for you. After completing the form, return it to the board of elections or Secretary of State’s office by mail. Mailed registration forms sent to a county board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office must be postmarked 30 days before an election to be valid for the election.

Registration forms not mailed in must be received by a board of elections, the Secretary of State’s office, public high school or vocational school, public library, office of any Bureau of Motor Vehicles, county treasurer’s office or designated agencies 30 days before an election to be valid for that election.

Do I declare my politics when I register?
No. Under Ohio law, your party affiliation is determined by the ballot you vote in a primary election.

What if I change my address or name?
If you are now registered and move within the state or same county or change your name, you must report the change to the board of elections by completing a voter registration form at the locations stated above or by mail as stated above. You may also complete a notice of change in voting status and file it with the court when you apply for a marriage license or when your name is changed by court order. Mailed forms should be sent to a county board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office 30 days before an election. Forms not mailed in should be received by a board of elections, the Secretary of State’s office, public high school or vocational school, public library, office of any Bureau of Motor Vehicles, county treasurer’s office or designated agencies 30 days before an election. If you do not report the change by the 30th day before an election, please read Exceptions below.

Exceptions:
If you change your name and/or move from one precinct to another in your county, you may report the change and vote by appearing at the board of elections during the absentee voting period; or on election day you may go to the polling place in the precinct in which you reside, the board of elections or site designated by the board.

If you move from one county to another in the state, you may report the change and vote at the board of elections in the county in which you now reside during the absentee voting period, or on election day at the board of elections or site designated by the board.

TDD assistance:
The Secretary of State’s office maintains a phone line to provide information on registration and voting for deaf citizens. The number is TDD (614) 466-0562.

VOTING PROCEDURES

You cast your ballot at the polling place designated to serve the precinct in which you reside. If you are in doubt as to the location of this polling place, check with your county board of elections.

How do I vote?
Instructions on how to cast your ballot will be given by the election officials at your precinct.

May a voter receive assistance in voting?
Persons with a physical or mental disability or who are unable to read or write may be assisted by anyone of their own choice, except an employer or his/her agent, a union officer or a candidate whose name appears on the ballot. The voter may be assisted by two poll workers of opposite political parties. No one who assists a voter may disclose any information about how that person voted.

How do I establish which party’s ballot I am entitled to vote?
If you are a new voter, you may vote the primary ballot of any political party. If you voted the primary ballot of a political party in 1996 or 1997 and this year want to vote the ballot of another party, then you change your affiliation by signing a statement to that effect when you vote.

May I vote on ballot issues at a primary election without declaring my politics?
Yes. You may vote on issues without voting for the candidates of a political party by requesting a questions-and-issues ballot.

ABSENTEE VOTING

You may vote by absentee ballot if:
• You will be absent from the county on election day.
• You are 62 years of age or older.
• You or a family member will be hospitalized on election day.
• You have a personal illness or physical disability.
• You are an election official or board of elections employee.
• You cannot vote on election day because of a religious belief.
• You will be in jail for a misdemeanor or awaiting trial.
• You are a full-time fire fighter, peace officer or full-time provider of emergency medical services.
• You are on active duty in the state with the organized militia.

How do I apply?
Write or go to the board of elections in your county and request an absentee ballot, giving the following information (a form is available from your county board of elections for convenience, but is not required):

• Your name and voting residence.
• The election for which you are requesting a ballot.
• Your reason for being absent from the polls on election day (see absentee qualifications).
• Your party choice if the election is a primary, or that you want to vote an issues-only ballot.
• The mailing address to which you want your ballot sent.
• Your signature.

Note: The absentee ballot request deadline is 3 p.m. on election day in the case of medical emergencies. To be eligible under this provision, you must be confined in a hospital because of a medical emergency. A close relative may deliver and return your ballot if you so request and state the relative’s name and relationship on the application, or representatives of the board of elections can be requested to deliver the ballot. All voted absentee ballots must be received at the board office by 7:30 p.m. on election day in order to be counted. Voters should request an absentee ballot as early as possible in order to meet the return deadline.

Exception: Ballots mailed from out of the country will be counted if received by the board up to 10 days after election day, if post-marked by election day.

Who may vote using the armed service absentee ballot?
If you are serving in the U.S. armed forces on active duty outside the state, you, your spouse and dependents may vote by an armed service absentee ballot if you otherwise meet the requirements for voting in Ohio. Your spouse and dependents may vote by an armed service absentee ballot only if they left Ohio to be with you.

What is the voting residence of a service member?
That place where you resided when you first entered the service, unless you later establish a voting residence elsewhere in Ohio.

Must armed service absentee voters register?
No.

How do I apply for an armed service absen-tee ballot?
You, your spouse or a close relative may request the board of elections to mail a ballot to you. Application may be made in person, by mail or fax. An Ohio application form or a federal post card application may be used for convenience, but neither is required; however, all mail requests must include the following information:

• Your name and voting residence (Ohio address).
• A statement that you are serving in the U.S. armed forces on active duty or are the spouse or dependent of a service member.
• The election for which a ballot is requested.
• If the election is a primary, your party choice, or that you want to vote an issues-only ballot.
• The mailing address to which you want your ballot sent.
• Signature of person requesting ballot.