What to know about early voting, registration
This year’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, will see Ohioans voting for an array of local and statewide offices and issues.
That includes the state’s governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state, treasurer and the chief justice and two justices on the Ohio Supreme Court. Also up for election are seats in the U.S. Senate and House, the Ohio Senate and House. Other judgeships will be decided for the 9th District Court of Appeals and Summit County Common Pleas Court and Summit County Domestic Relations Court. Voters also will select at-large Summit County Council representatives and state Board of Education members.
Local candidate races include the Twinsburg mayor, the Summit County Council District 6 representative and the Akron City Council Ward 1 representative.
The issues include two proposed statewide constitutional amendments — one that would require courts to consider factors like public safety when setting bail, and one that would prohibit local government from allowing non-electors to vote — as well as proposed bond issues in the Copley-Fairlawn City School District and Nordonia Hills City School District and tax levies in the Cuyahoga Falls City School District, Stow-Munroe Falls City School District, Twinsburg City School District, Coventry Local School District and Springfield Local School District.
Other local issues include proposed charter amendments in Akron, Munroe Falls, Norton, Stow, Mogadore and Silver Lake; a proposed police tax levy in Barberton; a proposed bond issue in Copley Township to build a new township safety facility; a proposed parks tax levy in Coventry Township; two tax levies in Northfield Center Township, one for fire and one for roads; and several local liquor options in Akron, Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls.
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Here’s everything you need to know about getting ready to vote, whether you do it in-person on Election Day, absentee by mail or absentee in-person.
When do I need to be registered to vote by?
The registration deadline to vote in the Nov. 8 general election is Tuesday, Oct. 11. The Summit County Board of Elections office will be open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. that day. The office is closed Monday, Oct. 10 for Columbus Day.
How do I check my voter registration status?
To check to see if you’re registered to vote, visit lookup.boe.ohio.gov/vtrapp/summit/vtrlookup.aspx. To register to vote, visit olvr.ohiosos.gov.
When is Election Day 2022?
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8, and polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
When does early voting start in Ohio?
Early voting for the November general election starts Oct. 12 at the Summit County Board of Elections, with the deadline to register to vote on Oct. 11.
In-person absentee voting will be held at the Summit County Board of Elections Early Vote Center, 500 Grant St., Akron.
Early voting hours are listed below. (As a reminder, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Nov. 6, so we’ll “fall back” one hour on that day.)
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12-14, 17-21 and 24-28
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 29
- 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 4;
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5
- 1-5 p.m. Nov. 6
- 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 7
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Where can I absentee vote in person?
In-person absentee voting will be held at the Summit County Board of Elections Early Vote Center, 500 Grant St., Akron.
How do I vote absentee by mail?
Voters can also choose to absentee vote by mail. To print and fill out an absentee ballot application, visit summitcountyboe.gov/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/11-a_english.pdf. In Summit County, the application must be mailed to or dropped off in-person at the Summit County Board of Elections, 470 Grant St., Akron, OH 44311. Applications by email or fax aren’t allowed.
If you can’t download or print the absentee ballot application, you can write out your own on an 8.5-inch by 11-inch sheet of paper. It must include your name, voting residence address, birth date and one form of identification (like a driver’s license number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, a copy of current and valid photo identification or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address, other than a notice of election or notice of voter registration).
It also must include the election in which you wish to vote, the mailing address where the ballot should be sent, a statement attesting that you’re a qualified elector and your original signature.
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When is the deadline to request an absentee ballot?
According to the Ohio secretary of state’s office, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is three days before the election in which you want to vote. The request must be received by your local county board of elections by noon the third day before the election, which is usually a Saturday.
When is the deadline to send in my absentee ballot?
Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before the election and received by the county board of elections no later than 10 days after the election. The U.S. Postal Service estimates that it may take two to five days for it to be delivered.
How do I check the status of my mailed absentee ballot?
To check the status of a mailed absentee ballot, visit lookup.boe.ohio.gov/vtrapp/summit/avlookup.aspx.
Can I deliver my absentee ballot in person?
Absentee ballots can also be returned in-person to the county board of elections before 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. The ballots can be dropped off by the voter or the voter’s near relative, which includes the voter’s spouse, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister “of the whole or half blood,” or the son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece.
Absentee ballots can’t be dropped off at voters’ polling locations, as they won’t be counted.
What if I decide not use my absentee ballot and vote in person?
If voters choose not to vote their absentee ballot and go to their polling location on Election Day, they’ll be required to vote a provisional ballot.
For information on absentee voting by mail, visit ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-voting/#byMail or summitcountyboe.gov/absentee-information/absentee-guidelines.
What’s on the ballot in Summit County?
To see what’s on your ballot in Summit County, visit lookup.boe.ohio.gov/vtrapp/summit/pollfinder.aspx.
Who are the candidates running in Summit County?
For a countywide summary of candidates, visit summitcountyboe.gov/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/General-Election-Candidate-List-2022.pdf.
What issues are on the ballot for Summit County?
For a countywide summary of issues, visit summitcountyboe.gov/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/60-day-ISSUE-SYNOPSIS-Nov-8-2022.pdf.
For questions, call 330-643-5200.
Contact Beacon Journal reporter Emily Mills at emills@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter @EmilyMills818.
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