Ohio voting deadlines for the November 3, 2026 election

Ohio voter registration closes Oct 5 for the November 3, 2026 election. Every deadline — registration, mail ballot and early voting — with the official source for each.

Look up your own ballot and polling place →

Every date

Monday, October 5, 2026
Voter registration deadline (online, by mail and in person)

Register or update your registration online by Monday, October 5, 2026. Mailed registration forms must be postmarked no later than Monday, October 5, 2026. Deliver your form in person by Monday, October 5, 2026; county boards of elections and the Secretary of State's office stay open until 9 p.m. that day.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 – Sunday, November 1, 2026
Early voting

Early in-person voting begins Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.), the day after registration closes. Early in-person voting ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026 (open 1-5 p.m. that day). Voters in line at closing may still vote. Same statewide hours in every county, at your county board of elections or its early voting site: Oct 6-9, 12-16 and 19-23, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat Oct 24, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Mon Oct 26, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Tue Oct 27, 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Oct 28-30, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Sat Oct 31, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun Nov 1, 1-5 p.m. No voting on weekends before Oct 24 or on Sunday Oct 25. Photo ID required.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Last day to request a mail ballot

Absentee ballot applications must be RECEIVED by your county board of elections by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 27, 2026 (a postmark is not enough).

Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Mail ballot return deadline

Absentee ballots must be RECEIVED by your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, whether mailed or hand-delivered. A postmark is not enough; ballots arriving after 7:30 p.m. are not counted. Military and overseas voters follow different rules.

How voting works in Ohio

The Secretary of State's 2026 calendar PDF (updated 8/04/2025) still shows the OLD rule (postmarked by Nov 2, received by Nov 7). That is outdated: Senate Bill 293 changed R.C. 3509.05(D) (effective March 20, 2026) so absentee ballots must arrive by close of polls, and the Secretary of State's 2026 voting schedule confirms 7:30 p.m. Election Day receipt. Military/overseas (UOCAVA) ballots returned by mail must be received by Nov 7. Polls open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on Election Day; photo ID required.

What we could not confirm

We publish a gap rather than a guess. These points were not settled by an official source:

Where these came from

Every date above was read from the Ohio election office's own published material, last checked Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Confirm anything you are relying on with your local election authority.

https://assets.ohiosos.gov/q3i90m1u8zsl/7jcmxUl29hFjILf0aSvr6G/c86cc83cf3f486aee8c5bf9bff6f5b47/2026electionscalendar_11x17.pdf

Oct. 05* Deadline for voter registration for November 3 General Election (30 days before general election) R.C. 3503.19

https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions

Your form must be postmarked no later than the voter registration deadline to be eligible for the next election.

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3501.10

open for the performance of its duties until nine p.m. on the last day of registration before a general or primary election

https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voting-schedule-text-only

October 27: Absentee ballot applications must be received by your board of elections by 8:30 p.m.

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