Voter Registration Information

Tuesday, Sept. 16: National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) — Tri-C is a national partner in the one-day NVRD effort to collectively encourage all citizens to register. 

Wednesday, Sept. 17: Constitution Day

Monday, Oct. 6: Voter Registration Deadline - Last day to register to vote in the general election.

Tuesday, Oct. 7: Voting Season opens: 

• Early In-Person voting begins at the Board of Elections (BOE) through Nov. 2.
  • Please Note - The Board of Elections has moved to 1803 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, inside the former Cleveland Plain Dealer building, one mile from its former location. There is free, on-site parking.
• Vote-by-Mail ballots are sent out for the general election.
• Sample ballots can be viewed on the BOE website. You can research candidates at these nonpartisan sites: Vote411.org, Ballotpedia.org, and VoteSmart.org.

Tuesday, Oct. 28: National Vote Early Day — Consider making Oct. 28 your deadline to return a Vote-by-Mail ballot, look up your polling location, or Vote Early In-Person at the BOE.

• This is also the last day applications can be received for Vote-by-Mail ballots for the general election. Applications must be physically received at the BOE by 8:30 p.m. It's too late to mail the application.
• Please Note - The Board of Elections has moved to 1803 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, inside the former Cleveland Plain Dealer building, one mile from its former location. 

Sunday, Nov. 2: This is the last day of Early In-Person voting at the BOE. Hours

Monday, Nov. 3: Vote-by-Mail voters take note - Completed ballots must be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service and postmarked by this date.

Tuesday, Nov. 4: General Election Day 2025 — In-person voting will be held at local polling locations. (If not mailed by Nov. 3, Vote-by-Mail ballots must be dropped off in the secure drop box in the downtown Cleveland Board of Elections parking lot by 7:30 p.m., 1803 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Voting Tip - they cannot be dropped off at neighborhood polling locations.)

• Look up your polling location
  • Cuyahoga County
  • Elsewhere in Ohio

We have three questions for you.

1. Have you moved in the last five years?
2. Have you changed your name, marital status or any part of your identity?
   • If you answered yes to any of the above, your voter registration must be updated.
3. Have you ever registered to vote? If not, sign up today and show the country that #TriCVotes!
   

Can't remember if you're registered?
No worries - do a quick check at VoteOhio.gov.

To vote in an upcoming election, register online at VoteOhio.gov.

To vote in the upcoming General Election, register online at VoteOhio.gov

• Last day for voter registration: Monday, Oct. 6
• Voting season opens: Tuesday, Oct. 7

Once you’re registered, there are three choices for how to vote:

1. Vote-by-Mail: You must fill out an application to vote by mail.

• Timeframe: The BOE must receive your application by 8:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day. A postmark will not suffice.
• For the general election, your request for a Vote-by-Mail ballot must be at the BOE by Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 8:30 p.m.  
  • If you have not mailed your application by three days before this date, the BOE suggests bringing it to their offices at 1803 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. You can take it inside, as Early In-Person voting will occur until 8:30 p.m that day, so the BOE will be open.
    • Note: You can request your absentee ballot any time during the year, as long as you’re registered to vote. 
  • Your completed ballot must be mailed with a postmark from the U.S. Postal Service by the close of business on Monday, Nov. 3. 
    • If you miss this deadline, you may bring your ballot to the Board of Elections at 1803 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44114, by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
    • You cannot take your ballot to a polling location. Instead, you will be asked to vote provisionally.

2. Early In-Person Voting: This in-person option will be available at one place in Cuyahoga County: the BOE at 1803 Superior Avenue, Cleveland 44114. Voting hours and details can be found on the BOE website.

• Timeframe: Early In-Person Voting begins Oct. 7 and ends Nov. 2. There will be no Early In-Person Voting the day before the election.

3. Vote in person on Election Day at your local polling location from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.  Your polling location is based on the address on your voter registration and is typically within about a mile or two of that address. Find your polling location.

Once you’re registered to vote, you can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail from home. The Vote-by-Mail process involves several steps and could take some time.

Here are the key steps and dates: 

Step 1: Request a Vote-by-Mail ballot if you’re registered. Fill out a Vote-by-Mail ballot application form to request an absentee ballot. This request must be received at the BOE on the Tuesday before the election at 8:30 p.m. 

• Note: Due to the volume of requests and the time needed for postal delivery, it’s advised to act sooner rather than later. Online voting is not an option. You can either use the U.S. Postal Service or deliver your ballot in person to the BOE.
• You can request a Vote-by-Mail ballot in one of four ways:

• 1. If you have online access and a printer: Complete a voter application form online, print it and mail it to the BOE. Use the “Print Form” option when prompted. (Note: You cannot submit the form online — it must be mailed).
  2. If you have online access but no printer: Visit the BOE website and fill in your name and birthday to access the form, using the “Mail Form” option.
  3. No online access? Call the BOE at 216-443-VOTE (8683) and request to have a Vote-by-Mail application mailed to you.
  4. In Person: Tri-C’s Student Engagement offices and public libraries offer both Voter Registration and Vote-by-Mail forms. You also can visit the BOE at 1803 Superior Avenue in Cleveland. There's an area inside the back door where you can complete and drop off your application. If you live in another county, search for the BOE in your home county.

Step 2: The day after the voter registration deadline, the BOE will begin mailing ballots.
Note: The process may take some time after your request is received.

Step 3: Research and fill out your ballot from the BOE. Then, mail the completed ballot back to the BOE. Postage is needed. Under state law, the ballot must be postmarked by the close of business on Monday, the day before Election Day. If you cannot put it in the mail by then, you can drop it off at the Board of Elections (1803 Superior Avenue in Cleveland for Cuyahoga residents) by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

Track Your Ballot

New to Vote-by-Mail? You can track the progress of your Vote-by-Mail request and ballot - just as you would a package - on the BOE website. 

Do you know someone who can’t go to the polls due to a disability or medical condition?
In Ohio, individuals with a personal illness, physical disability, infirmity or medical emergency may be eligible to have a provisional ballot delivered to them or arrange for curbside voting. Check here for additional state-by-state information on Voting With a Disability

• Learn about Ohio's Accessibility services for voters here.

Curious how our armed services members and their families apply for absentee ballots?
You’ll find the details for Ohioans here: Voting for Ohio Military and Overseas voters

Can an ex-offender vote in Ohio?
This varies based on the type of conviction. An otherwise qualified person convicted of a misdemeanor may vote. A person currently serving time in jail or prison for a felony conviction can neither register to vote nor vote while incarcerated. However, an otherwise qualified person convicted of a felony may register and vote while on probation or parole or after completing their jail or prison sentence. Ex-offenders with felony convictions must re-register to vote. Learn more here: Voting as an Ex-Offender

Can a homeless person vote in Ohio?
All Americans can register to vote — even if the home address claimed is a park or a corner of two streets. Learn more here: Voting and Homelessness

Do you know someone who’s been a victim of domestic violence and is afraid to register to vote for fear of having their address discovered?
State-administered Address Confidentiality Programs and Confidential Voter Listings protect those at risk by providing a substitute address for all public records. In Ohio, that program is called Safe At Home. Note: In this case, registering at the BOE in person is recommended.

• Learn more about Ohio's Safe At Home program here.
  • Multiple agencies in each county are able to help with Application Assistance to this program. See the list for your county.
• Learn more about state programs here: Voting and Domestic Violence