Editor’s note: This is an update to an earlier voter guide from February. With the uncertainty of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the Ohio presidential primary election falling on St. Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, March 17), we thought readers might want information on absentee and early in-person voting.
• Early in-person voting: begins Feb. 19 and includes the two Saturdays, one Sunday and Monday before Election Day. Early in-person voting dates:8 a.m.-5 p.m., March 2-6; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, March 7; 8 a.m.-7 p.m., March 9-13; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, March 14; 1-5 p.m., Sunday, March 15; 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday, March 16. Absentee voting by mail: Began Wednesday, Feb. 19 (27 days before Election Day). Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail: noon, Saturday, March 14. Absentee ballot postmark deadline: Monday, March 16. (Voters can drop off absentee ballots at the Board of Elections until 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17.)
Voting/elections
The 2020 Ohio presidential primary election is Tuesday, March 17, 2020. You may cast your ballot in your precinct at your designated polling place between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. If you don’t know the location of your precinct polling place, contact the board of elections in your county. Click here to find your precinct polling place in Mahoning County. Click here to find your precinct polling place in Trumbull County.
Voter information
Ohio Secretary of State: 2020 Ohio presidential primary election. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Voters must bring the proper form of I.D. and know their polling place and precinct. Voters can check their polling place and precinct and get other important voting information by visiting MyOhioVote. This online resource is a one-stop location for all necessary voting information. Ohio voters can visit to check their voter registration status, find their polling location, view their sample ballot and track their absentee ballot.
Mahoning County Board of Elections, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Entrance A, Youngstown, Ohio 44502; 330-783-2474. Fax: 330-783-2801. Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. You can register to vote at the Mahoning County Board of Elections during business hours. (Note: The deadline to register to vote in the 2020 Ohio presidential primary election was Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020). Military and overseas absentee voting: begins Jan. 31 (46 days before Election Day). Early in-person voting: begins Feb. 19 and includes the two Saturdays, one Sunday and Monday before Election Day. Early in-person voting dates:8 a.m.-5 p.m., March 2-6; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, March 7; 8 a.m.-7 p.m., March 9-13; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, March 14; 1-5 p.m., Sunday, March 15; 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday, March 16. In Mahoning County, early in-person takes place at the Mahoning County Board of Elections. Absentee voting by mail: Begins Wednesday, Feb. 19 (27 days before Election Day). Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail: noon, Saturday, March 14. Absentee ballot postmark deadline: Monday, March 16. (Voters can drop off absentee ballots at the Board of Elections until 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17.) Ohio presidential primary: Tuesday, March 17. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
• Register to vote.
• Lookup if you’re on the voting rolls.
• Find your polling location in Youngstown and Mahoning County.
Trumbull County Board of Elections. 2947 Youngstown Road, S.E., Warren, Ohio 44484; 330-369-4050. Fax: 330-369-4160. You can register to vote at the Trumbull County Board of Elections from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. (Note: The deadline to register to vote in the 2020 Ohio presidential primary election was Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020). Military and overseas absentee voting: begins Jan. 31 (46 days before Election Day). Early in-person voting: begins Feb. 19 and includes the two Saturdays, one Sunday and Monday before Election Day. Early in-person voting dates: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., March 2-6; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, March 7; 8 a.m.-7 p.m., March 9-13; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, March 14; 1-5 p.m., Sunday, March 15; 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday, March 16. In Trumbull County, early in-person takes place at the Trumbull County Board of Elections. Absentee voting by mail: Begins Wednesday, Feb. 19 (27 days before Election Day). Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail: noon, Saturday, March 14. Absentee ballot postmark deadline: Monday, March 16. (Voters can drop off absentee ballots at the Board of Elections until 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17.) Ohio presidential primary: Tuesday, March 17. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
• Register to vote.
• Lookup if you’re on the voting rolls.
• Find your polling location in Warren and Trumbull County.
What are the qualifications to register and to vote in Ohio?
You are qualified to register to vote in Ohio if you meet all the following requirements:
• You are a citizen of the United States;
• You will be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the next general election. (If you will be 18 on or before the general election, you may vote in the primary election to nominate candidates, but you cannot vote on issues or party central committees until you are 18);
• You will be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election in which you want to vote;
• You are not incarcerated (in prison or jail) for a felony conviction under the laws of this state (Ohio), another state, or the United States;
• You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court; and
• You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violating the election laws.
• Register to vote.
Identification requirements
Ohio law requires that every voter, upon appearing at the polling place to vote on Election Day, must announce his or her full name and current address and provide proof of identity.
The forms of identification that may be used by a voter who appears at a polling place to vote on Election Day include:
• an unexpired Ohio driver’s license or state identification card with present or former address so long as the voter’s present residential address is printed in the official list of registered voters for that precinct;
• a military identification;
• a photo identification that was issued by the United States government or the State of Ohio, that contains the voter’s name and current address and that has an expiration date that has not passed;
• an original or copy of a current utility bill with the voter’s name and present address;
• an original or copy of a current bank statement with the voter’s name and present address;
• an original or copy of a current government check with the voter’s name and present address;
• an original or copy of a current paycheck with the voter’s name and present address; or
• an original or copy of a current other government document (other than a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections) that shows the voter’s name and present address.
For utility bills, bank statements, government checks, paychecks, and other government documents, “current” is defined as within the last 12 months.
• “Utility bill” includes a cell phone bill.
• “Other government document” includes license renewal and other notices, fishing and marine equipment operator’s license, court papers, or grade reports or transcripts.
• “Government office” includes any local (including county, city, township, school district and village), state or federal (United States) government office, branch, agency, commission, public college or university or public community college, whether or not in Ohio.
Provisional ballots: If you do not have any of the above forms of identification you may provide either your Ohio driver’s license or state identification number (which begins with two letters followed by six numbers) or the last four digits of your Social Security number and cast a provisional ballot. Once the information is reviewed and verified by the board of elections, your ballot will be counted.
If you do not provide one of the above documents or your driver’s license/state identification number or the last four digits of your Social Security number at the precinct, you will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. However, in order for that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than seven days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification.
How to register to vote
You may obtain a voter registration form, and register to vote in person at any of the following locations:
• The office of the Secretary of State;
• The office of any of the 88 county boards of elections;
• The office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles;
• Public libraries;
• Public high schools or vocational schools;
• County treasurers’ offices; or Offices of designated agencies, including:
• The Department of Job and Family Services;
• The Department of Health (including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program);
• The Department of Mental Health;
The Department of Developmental Disabilities;
• Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities; or
• The office of any state-assisted college or university responsible for providing assistance to students with disabilities.
• Register to vote.
When you’ve completed your voter registration form, review it carefully for completeness and accuracy. You may either personally deliver, or send by U.S. Mail, your voter registration form to a county board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office no later than the voter-registration deadline, the 30th day before the election at which you want to vote. (The deadline to register to vote in the primary presidential election is Tuesday, Feb. 18.)
You must provide either your Ohio driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. You sign an oath attesting to the accuracy of all information given. You must register using your legal name just as you would for any legal document.
To register to vote online, you will need to provide the following:
- Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
If you do not have any portion of the required information, follow this link to update your voting address using our paper form (PDF). Once you complete this form, you must sign and send it to your county board of elections.
If you are a Safe at Home participant, before you proceed, follow this link to contact the Safe at Home office.
Information via the Ohio Secretary of State, Mahoning County Board of Elections, Trumbull County Board of Elections. Compiled by the Metro Monthly Staff.
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