Resources for Student Voters

Oberlin College seeks to prepare students to become engaged and informed citizens by providing essential information and resources to vote in local, state, and national elections.

Primary Election Information

Ohio’s primary election is scheduled for May 3, 2022, although ongoing litigation may change the date. The deadline for registering to vote at your current address in Ohio is April 4, 2022. If you wish to vote in the Ohio primary, you must be registered at your current address, see below for information on voter registration.  Whether voting in Ohio, absentee, or by mail, be sure you are prepared and know when and how you can submit (or cast) your ballot.

Check your state
411 Election Information

Learn Who and What is on the Ballot

In addition to local issues, there will be partisan primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, Governor, and other statewide offices, and the Ohio House. Due to redistricting lawsuits, it is not yet clear who will be on the ballot in Oberlin for legislative office. Check the link below for updates

Ohio statewide primary candidates
Find out what's on your ballot

Decadal Redistricting

After every 10-year census, each state adjusts the number and location of its federal congressional districts as well as those for the state legislatures. In 2015, Ohio voters amended the state constitution in an attempt to reduce partisan gerrymanders in the state legislature by creating a bipartisan redistricting commission and a set of rules to make it more difficult for the majority party to redraw districts in their favor. In 2018, Ohio voters approved a separate but somewhat parallel amendment to reduce gerrymandering for U.S. congressional districts.

In 2021, these two processes were implemented for the first time after a delayed census report due to the Covid-19 disruption. The commissions were unable to reach a bipartisan consensus, and new maps were approved based on the majority party (Republican) designs. A number of voting rights organizations, including the non-partisan League of Women Voters filed suit against the redistricting commission, arguing that the maps approved for both state and federal legislatures are unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders. As of this writing (Feb 19, 2022) the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that the first US Congressional District maps and the first two approved state legislative district maps are unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders. It is unclear what legislative maps will be used, and litigation is ongoing.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled again on March 16 that the latest Ohio House and Senate district maps do not comply with the state's constitution anti-gerrymandering requirements, as reported by the Statehouse News Bureau. "This effectively eliminates any possibility of a full primary with all statewide, legislative, and congressional offices on the ballot on May 3."

oc votes logo

Sources:
“All About Redistricting” - Loyola Law School;
“State Redistricting Deadlines” - National Conference of State Legislatures
"Ohio Supreme Court rules the latest GOP-drawn state legislative district maps unconstitutional" -Statehouse News Bureau

 

 

Voter Registration

Are you registered to vote? Of course, you are! 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 this spring or contact aricker@oberlin.edu or zpage@oberlin.edu for more information.

Plan Your Vote: Here’s How

Three Ways to Vote

Vote by Mail

You can request an absentee ballot by printing and mailing this form before April 30. Make sure you are correctly registered first.

Absentee Request

Vote Early in Person

  • You can vote early in-person at the Lorain Board of Elections between April 5 through May 2. Check voting hours and get directions .

  • You don’t need a utility bill, but you’ll need to know your registration address (residence hall address, not OCMR) and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. Look up your registration address.

Vote at the Polls on Election Day

  • Find your polling location (https://www.voteloraincountyohio.gov/find-polling-location). Please note that polling for college students may depend on your on-campus residence.

  • Be sure to bring a utility bill as part of your ID. The college will generate your utility bill in the last week of April and send it by email as a pdf attachment.

More About Voting at Oberlin College

Voter Friendly Campus Initiative
Oberlin College Designated a Voter Friendly Campus