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Column by Victoria Hansen
hansenv@findlay.edu
As the weather cools down and Pulse on Politics kicks into full swing, fall is the time to think about crunchy leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and voting in the Nov. 5 election.
Ohioans over 18 can register to vote online at Ohio.gov. To register to vote, be sure to have your driver’s license number, if you have one (the top numbers and letters on Ohio driver’s licenses), and the last four numbers of your Social Security number on hand. You’ll need them to fill out the form. Registering online is as easy as simply filling out the form online and clicking “submit.”
Ohioans can also register on paper to vote. The paper forms require all the same information that the web form does. Printed voter registration forms can be found on the Student Government Association table in the Alumni Memorial Union, or can be printed from Ohio.gov.
The last day to register in Ohio to vote in the Nov. 3 election is Monday, Oct. 5. Mailed applications must be received, and web forms must be submitted by that date. Students who aren’t from Ohio can register here.
Registered voters are able to vote in their local elections, regardless of where they live. Those who cannot make it to their polling place on Election Day can register for an absentee ballot, a type of mail-in ballot that must be received by Oct. 26 to be counted for the 2026 midterm election.
To receive an absentee ballot, fill out the form on the Ohio.gov website with all of the information that it requires.
The first address you need to fill in is the address that you are registered to vote at, not where you want your ballot mailed to. Once you have filled out the address that you are registered to vote at, check the box beneath the field to fill in the address that you wish to have your ballot mailed to.
The form requires either the last four digits of your Social Security number, driver’s license number (the top numbers and letters on Ohio driver’s licenses), or a photocopy of current photo identification (such as a driver’s license, passport, or other government ID) for identification purposes.
Once the blanks on the form are filled out on the website, press “Download & Print” to download the filled-out form. Sign the form and mail it to the County Board of Elections listed on the form.
Once the form is received, you will be mailed your ballot, which you will fill out according to the instructions printed on the ballot. If you change your mind and want to vote in person, you can return your completed ballot to your polling place on Election Day and vote there. Students from other states can request an absentee ballot here.
The state of Ohio starts mailing out absentee ballots on Oct. 8. Whether you’re voting on Oct. 8, Nov. 5, or sometime in between, keep following Pulse on Politics to stay up-to-date with the biggest races in Ohio.
