Ohio Primary Election

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Election Day:
Polls Open 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Early Voting Open: April 7, 2026, and runs through May 4, 2026

Vote-By-Mail Ballot Request Deadline: April 28
Absentee Ballots: Must be postmarked by May 4

Important Notes:

• To ensure timely processing, please request your ballot by April 25.

• We recommend not mailing your ballot after April 28 due to potential mail service delays.

You can drop off your absentee ballot at the Board of Elections, but not at local polling places on Election Day.

Who Can Vote in the Primary

Any registered voter may choose to vote in the ballot for one political party or request an “Issues Only” ballot. Voters do not have to be affiliated with a party in advance, but you must choose just one party’s ballot on Election Day.

What Offices May Appear on the Ballot

Depending on your precinct and the ballot you select, the May 5, 2026 Primary may include:

Voter ID Information

A valid form of identification is required to vote early in person and on Election Day.

Did you know that Ohio’s voter ID laws have changed since the last election? To vote in person this year, Ohio voters must present one of these valid photo IDs when voting in person early and on election day – those include an Ohio Driver’s License, an Ohio State-Issued ID, a U.S. Passport, or a Military ID. If you are voting by mail/ absentee, you DO NOT need a photo ID to cast your ballot, but you must request a vote-by-mail ballot & return it on time to your county board of elections.  Make sure you think through HOW you will vote based on what ID you have available.  

A student ID is NOT a form of acceptable ID to vote. 

Valid Forms of ID: 

Valid Photo ID Must also have the Following:  An expiration date that has not passed, a photograph of the voter, and the voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book. If you have an Ohio ID with an old address listed, this form of identification can be accepted when the voter is registered at their most current address. For more information on acceptable forms of ID, click here. 

Forms of ID No Longer Accepted: a utility bill, a student ID, or a Social Security card.

Vote Early In-Person Information

Early Vote Hours:

• April 7 to 10: | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Tuesday to Friday

• April 13 to 17: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Monday to Friday

• April 20 to 24: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Monday to Friday

• April 27: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Monday

• April 28: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Tuesday

• April 29 to May 1: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Wednesday to Friday

• May 2: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Saturday

• May 3: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Sunday

Vote-by-Mail Information

Absentee Voting by Mail: Begins Tuesday, April 7th 

Absentee/Vote-By-Mail Request: Ohio voters now must use the official Ohio Secretary of State Absentee Ballot Request form to request a vote-by-mail ballot. You can fill out this form online, print it, and mail it to your county board of election office or you can go directly to your county board of election office to make the request in person. You CANNOT make a request to vote by mail online. Absentee Ballot Request Form. 

Military & Overseas Absentee by Mail Voting:  Begins September 20th and November 9th is the last day for BOE’s to receive these ballots.  These ballots must be postmarked on or before November 4thand must be received by November 9th.  

Vote-By-Mail Ballot Request Deadline: April 28

NOTE: OOC recommends requesting your ballot by April 25th due to slow mail times.

Vote-By-Mail Ballot Return Deadline: Absentee ballots must be postmarked by must be postmarked by May 4th and received by the Board of Elections by May 9th. If not returned by mail, they must be received by your board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

NOTE: OOC recommends NOT mailing back a ballot after April 25th due to slow mail times. If you have not sent in your ballot via mail by April 28, you should hand deliver it to your board of elections.