Voting in Ohio: Myth vs Fact

Navigating the voting process can often be complex, whether intentionally or not. We're here to clarify the truth behind seven common myths about voting in Ohio (as of this publication).

MYTH 1: “I don’t have an Ohio ID; I cannot vote”

FACT: In Ohio, there are several types of valid photo identification, some of which are free to obtain. You may vote with any of the following, provided they are not expired, contain your photograph, and your name substantially conforms to your name in the Ohio Secretary of State’s Poll List or Poll Book.

• Ohio Driver’s License,

• State of Ohio ID Card (Get One FREE),

• Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV,

• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card,

• U.S. Military ID Card,

• Ohio National Guard ID Card, or

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID Card

Source: Ohio Secretary of State

MYTH 2: “My ID has the wrong address; I cannot vote.”

FACT: In Ohio, you do need an unexpired ID to vote in person, however, it does not need to reflect your current residential address AND your current address must be up to date with the Ohio Secretary of State and be in the pollbook. You can check your voter information here and update it online here. Voter registration and updates must occur no later than 30 days prior to an election.

Source: Ohio Secretary of State

MYTH 3: “I lost my right to vote by being convicted of a crime”

FACT: 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.

If you are on parole or probation, live in a halfway house, or are on house arrest, you have the right to vote.

If you are on parole, or probation for a felony that does not involve a jail term, you have the right to vote.

The only time you may not vote is if you are currently incarcerated on a felony conviction. But once you are out of prison or jail, you must re-register to vote, even if you were previously registered. You re-gain the right to vote.

Source: ACLU

MYTH 4: “I have to be elderly, homebound, or in the military overseas to vote (absentee) by mail”

FACT: All Ohio voters whose registration information is up-to-date have the opportunity to vote in any election from the convenience of their own homes by requesting an absentee ballot. Absentee voting has many benefits -- You can vote early, it is convenient, it reduces the chance of lines at the polls on Election Day, and absentee ballots are the first votes counted on Election Night. Voters need only fill out and return an application and their absentee ballot will be mailed to them so they may make their selections at their leisure and return their ballot to the board of elections ahead of Election Day.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is seven days before the election in which you want to vote. If mailed, absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before the election in order to be counted. You can also return your absentee ballot in person to your county board of elections before the close of the polls at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

You can request your ballot for each individual election beginning on January 1 or 90 days before the date of an election, whichever is earlier, but you must complete and submit a separate application for each election in which you want to vote. Your request must be received by your local county board of elections by the close of business on the seventh day before the election. However, you should submit your request as far in advance of the election as possible to ensure there is sufficient time for the board to mail you a ballot and for you to timely return that ballot.

Source: Ohio Secretary of State

MYTH 5: “My voter registration should be fine, I haven’t moved”

FACT: Ohio often purges voter records. You should verify your voter registration every year, and at least 30 days prior to an election. Voter registration and updates must occur later than 30 days prior to an election.

Source: Ohio Capital Journal

MYTH 6: “I’m a college student, I can’t vote while on campus”

FACT: If you're an in-state or out-of-state college student living on or near your university's campus, you may use your Ohio school residence address to vote. You can register to vote at your Ohio college address as long as you have been there for 30 days. When you cast your ballot, you can use any of the approved forms of identification.

Note: If you don’t have a valid Ohio photo ID, you can vote-by-mail using the last four digits of your Social Security Number as identification.

Note for out-of-state students: You can lose your Ohio residency by establishing residency in a new state or by voting in another state.

Source: ACLU

MYTH 7: “Why should I vote? It won’t affect the election outcome”

FACT: Your vote counts in Ohio, even if you think it won't affect the outcome, for several reasons. Here are some key points and examples of elections won by narrow margins:

Close Races Are Common: Many elections are decided by a small number of votes. For instance, in the 2020 Ohio U.S. Senate race, J.D. Vance won by a margin of just 6.11%, demonstrating that every vote contributes significantly to the final outcome​. In other races, the margin was a low as 0.17%, or about 546 votes. Small increases in voter turnout add up.

Decisive Role in Presidential Elections: Ohio has been a crucial swing state in many presidential elections. In 2004, the entire presidential election hinged on Ohio's results. George W. Bush won Ohio by just 2.1 percentage points, which secured his re-election. If John Kerry had won Ohio, he would have won the presidency despite losing the national popular vote​ 

Local Impact: Voting in local elections directly impacts your community. Decisions on education, infrastructure, and local policies are made by elected officials who are chosen by small margins. For example, various county elections in Ohio have seen outcomes determined by a few hundred votes