COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Ohioans who want to vote in this fall’s general election don’t have to wait until Nov. 5 to cast their ballots.
Early-in person and absentee voting will start on Oct. 8 in the November election. Voters can cast ballots at county boards of elections most days leading up to the weekend before Election Day, so long as they come with photo identification.
Ohio requires in-person voters to have photo identification in order to vote. That includes an Ohio driver’s license, an Ohio ID card, a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military ID, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID, or an Ohio National Guard ID. Out-of-state driver’s licenses are not valid IDs.
If you don’t have a valid form of photo ID, you can vote by mail without it. You must first submit a request form for an absentee ballot, available here , and return it by mail or in person to the county board of elections. Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 or returned in person to county elections boards by the time polls close on Nov. 5.