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 →
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.
Ohio county boards of elections begin mailing absentee ballots to voters who requested one on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2026. That is also the first day you can vote early in person at your county board of elections.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Declarations of candidacy and petitions for the May 2027 primary are due by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3, 2027.
You must be registered by Monday, April 5, 2027 to vote in the May 2027 primary.
Ohio law sets the primary on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May. The first Monday in May 2027 is May 3, so the primary is Tuesday, May 4, 2027. In odd-numbered years this is where parties nominate candidates for city and village offices, though whether your municipality holds a primary depends on how it nominates candidates, and a few charter cities set their own municipal primary date.
You must be registered by Monday, October 4, 2027 to vote on November 2, 2027.
Ohio law defines the regular municipal election as the election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd-numbered year. The first Monday in November 2027 is November 1, so the election is Tuesday, November 2, 2027. City and village councils, mayors and many local levies are decided on this date statewide.
We publish a gap rather than a guess. These points were not settled by an official source:
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.
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.
https://www.ohiosos.gov/office/media-center/categories/press-releases/2026-09-03
Boards of Elections will begin mailing absentee ballots to military and overseas voters on September 18 and to all other voters on October 6.
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1.14
The time within which an act is required by law to be done shall be computed by excluding the first and including the last day; except that, when the last day falls on Sunday or a legal holiday, the act may be done on the next succeeding day that is not Sunday or a legal holiday.
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3513.05
of the ninetieth day before the day of the primary election, file a declaration of candidacy and petition and pay the fees required under divisions (A) and (B) of section 3513.