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1. Does everyone who wants to vote in Ohio have to be registered to vote here?

Yes

2. Am I registered to vote?

If you are unsure as to if you are registered to vote, you may check your voter information by performing a Voter Information Search. If the search does not return your information, please contact the Lucas County Board of Elections to check your registration status.

3. What are the qualifications to register and vote in Ohio?

You are qualified to register to vote in Ohio if you meet all the following requirements:
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 general election. (If you will be 18 on or before November 8, you may vote in the primary election for candidates, but you cannot vote on issues until you are 18);
3. You will be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 consecutive 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 violations of the election laws.

You are eligible to vote in elections held in your voting precinct more than 30 consecutive days after you are duly registered to vote in this state; however, you may request an absentee ballot during that period.

4. How do I register to vote?

You may download a Voter Registration Application. You may also contact the Lucas County Board of Election or the Ohio Secretary of State  to mail a registration form to you. You may also call our office at (419) 213-4001. Beginning January 1st, 2017 you may register online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website You may obtain a registration application in person, or register in person, at any of the following locations: The office of the Ohio Secretary of State; The office of the Lucas County Board of Elections; The office of the Registrar or any Deputy Registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles; Public Libraries; Public and Parochial High Schools, or Vocational Schools; County Treasurer's Office; or Offices of designated agencies including: The Department of Job and Family Services; The Department of Health (including the Women, Infants and Children program; The Department of Mental Health; The Department of Developmental Disabilities; The Rehabilitation Services Commission; Any state-assisted college or university that provides assistance to disabled students. When you have completed your voter registration application, please review it carefully for completeness and accuracy. You may either personally deliver, or send by U.S. Mail, your voter registration application to the county board of elections or the Secretary of State's office. You, or another person acting on your behalf, also may deliver your application to one of the offices listed above, but you should ensure your application reaches the office of a board of elections or the Secretary of State within 10 days and no later than the voter registration deadline for the election at which you want to vote.

5. How can I vote by absentee ballot?

You can download an absentee voter application (PDF)  from our website, obtain one from any Deputy Registrar or phone our office at (419) 213-4001, to have an application mailed to your home. Please note: Extra postage will be needed when mailing completed absentee ballots. If you are unsure of the postage cost, please check with your local office of the U.S. Postal Service.

6. What is the application process for obtaining an absentee ballot?

Ohio law provides separate application processes for different classifications of absentee voters (i.e., state militia, uniformed services, overseas, and regular citizens). In all cases, absentee ballots must be applied for in writing. If you are properly registered to vote, you must submit your written request to the board of elections of the county in which your voting residence is located. Your request must contain certain information as described in the following sections and your signature. To avoid potential problems with your application, you are encouraged, but not required, to use an application form prescribed by the Ohio Secretary of State. Download absentee voter application (PDF)  For information on voting rights of U.S. citizens living outside the U.S., see Uniformed and Overseas Citizens. If you are a regular absentee voter, you may use the absentee voter application (PDF) prescribed by the Secretary of State (Form 11-A) to apply for your absentee ballot. If you choose not to use the prescribed form, your written application need not be in any particular format, but it must contain all of the following information: 1.Your name; 2.Your legal signature; 3.The address at which you are registered to vote; 4.Your date of birth; 5.One of the following items showing proof of your identification: • Your Ohio driver’s license number; or • The last four digits of your Social Security number; or • A copy of your current and valid photo identification, military identification, or a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government (including from a public college or university) document that shows your name and current address. (Note: You cannot use a voter registration acknowledgement notice that the board of elections mailed to you as proof of identification.); 6.A statement identifying the election for which you are requesting an absentee voter’s ballot; 7.A statement that you are a qualified elector; 8.If the request is for a partisan primary election ballot, your political party affiliation; and 9.If you want the ballot to be mailed to a different address, the address to which you want it mailed.

7. What type of ID do I need to bring to the polls?

Many types of identification will be accepted. They are:

For Early In-Person and Absentee Voting:

• A copy of a current and valid photo identification, (i.e. Ohio driver’s license, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and address; or
• A copy of a current utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and current address (including from a public college or university); or
• The last four digits of voter’s Social Security number; or driver's license number.

For Election Day Voting (Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

• A current and valid photo identification (i.e. Ohio driver’s license, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and address (does not need to be current address for driver’s license or state id card); or
• A military identification. (Does not need to show name or address); or
• A copy of a current utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and current address (including from a public college or university).

Ohio law states that you can use as ID, a document from the Board of Elections EXCEPT for a voter registration acknowledgement notice or a notification of an election.

Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by provisional ballot.

8. How do I change my political party?

Under Ohio Law, your party affiliation is determined by the ballot you vote in an even numbered year Primary Election. The next opportunity to change your party affiliation will be the March 10, 2020 Presidential Primary Election.

9. Where is your office located?

The Lucas County Board of Elections is located on the 3rd Floor of the DiSalle Government Center in downtown Toledo. The building is bordered by Jackson, Erie, Huron and Beech Streets. The parking garage is located on Beech Street. Our phone number is (419) 213-4001.

10. What are your hours? Do you close for lunch?

The Board of Elections is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office does not close for lunch.

11. How do I cancel my voter registration?

Voters may request to cancel their voter registration by submitting a written request to the Board of Elections. The request should include the voter’s name, address, date of birth, signature and either their Driver’s License number or the last four digits of their social security number.

12. Who are my representatives and how can I reach them?

You can search for your representatives through each Legislative Body's website. United State House of Representatives, United States Senate, Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate