Upcoming Election Information
The 2024 General Election will take place on November 5th, 2024. The registration deadline to vote at your current address in Ohio is October 7th, 2024. If you wish to vote in Ohio, you must be registered at your current address; see below for information on voter registration. Whether voting in person, early in-person, or by mail, be sure you are prepared and know when and how you can submit (or cast) your ballot. Important: students without an Ohio driver's license, state ID, or passport must vote by mail.
Step 1: Register to Vote
The next voter registration deadline is October 7th, 2024. If you are registered in Ohio, please check the Lorain County Board of Elections at www.voteloraincountyohio.gov to verify that you have successfully registered. If you are not in the same dormitory or apartment as you were when you last voted in Ohio, you need to update your voter registration. Look for voter registration drives on campus or fill out a voter registration form at the Science Center library.
On-Campus Voter Registration
If you are registering to vote at an on-campus address, please note the following:
- Your voter registration address must be the physical address of your dorm. You can look this up at the facilities' website.
- Under mailing address, you will need to write: 135 W Lorain St. - [your Obie ID]. You do not need to rewrite Oberlin, OH 44074
- You MUST pick up your voter registration postcard from the mailroom as soon as possible. Receipt of this postcard verifies your address for the Board of Elections.
Voting at Home
If you want to register to vote in your home state, check out more information about voter registration and voting processes through the Campus Votes Project State Student Guides.
Step 2: Plan Your Vote
Vote at the Polls on Election Day
Find your polling location. Please note that polling for college students may depend on your on-campus residence. You will need an unexpired photo ID to vote in person in Ohio. Bring one of the following:
- A Driver's license or photo ID issued by the State of Ohio BMV
- Military ID
- US Passport and Passport Card
Vote Early In Person
You can vote early in-person at the Lorain Board of Elections starting on October 8th. Check voting hours and get directions on the Lorain County Board of Elections website. You will need an unexpired photo ID to vote in person in Ohio. Bring one of the following:
- A Driver's license or photo ID issued by the State of Ohio BMV
- Military ID
- US Passport and Passport Card
Vote by Mail
To request an absentee ballot in Ohio, you must provide either your Ohio driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. This method is the only one available to students who do not have an accepted form of photo ID. You can request an absentee ballot by printing and mailing this form or delivering it in person to the Board of Elections. All absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before November 4th and received by November 9th. Absentee voting for the General Election starts October 8th. Make sure you are correctly registered first.
Ohio Absentee Ballot Request
Step 3: Research Your Ballot
Prepare to vote by researching what issues and candidates will be on your ballot. The League of Women Voters provides ballot information on Vote411.org. Here, you'll find nonpartisan background and responses from candidates.
Step 4: Vote!
If you are voting in person early or on Election Day, you will need to bring your form of photo ID. You will also need to provide the address at which you are registered. If you are voting absentee, you must either drop your ballot off at the Board of Elections by 7:30 pm on Election Day or mail your ballot postmarked by the day before Election Day.
Absentee Ballot Instructions
