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Ohio Election 2026 — What You Need to Know

PeopleUnitedForPublicSchools.com

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Bullet points so Rachel doesn’t forget her intro:�

  • DON’T WORRY about memorizing this info or the links. We’ll email everything to you afterward!

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  • REMEMBER – You have SO MUCH POWER at the state and local level
      • Use this power. If you don’t, someone else will.

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WHAT WE’LL COVER TODAY:

  • Three Ways to Vote in Ohio

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  • Facts — Elections and Voting in Ohio

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  • Election Resources

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  • Key Races on Ohio’s November 2026 Ballot

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  • More Ways to Engage�
  • Q&A

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Ohio Voting Laws

List of changes to Ohio voting laws: lwvohio.org/ohiovotingchanges

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ELECTION DAY IS

Tuesday,

November 3, 2026

13 days from today

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In Ohio, there are three ways to vote

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VOTING EARLY IN-PERSON

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Election 2026:

In-Person�Early Voting

VoteOhio.gov

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In-Person�Early Voting

VoteOhio.gov → Find Your Early Voting Location

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*but you may not be able to use the online voter registration system

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No more early voting on the Monday before Election Day​

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VOTING BY MAIL

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(AKA “VOTING ABSENTEE”)

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NEW LAW:

  • Absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before the election (November 2nd)
      • Must be received by 7:30 pm on Election Day�
  • OR you can drop your completed ballot in the drop box outside your county Board of Elections
      • Must be received by 7:30 pm on Election Day

https://www.lwvohio.org/ohiovotingchanges

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NEW(ish) Law:

Can’t drop your ballot in the drop box outside your Board of Elections? You can send one of these people to drop it off for you (BUT they’ll need to go INSIDE the Board of Elections):

    • spouse
    • parent / stepparent
    • child / stepchild
    • sibling
    • grandparent
    • aunt / uncle
    • niece / nephew
    • in-law

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EXCEPTION: Ohioans with disabilities can allow any �trusted person to drop off their ballot for them

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If you’re voting absentee….

  • All Ohio Boards of Elections have online ballot tracking tools! They also have hotlines. Track your ballot!

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  • WE RECOMMEND: If you can’t mail your ballot by October 24th, you should drop it off (if possible) to make sure it arrives on time

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Still have your absentee ballot on Election Day?�

  • Option #1 — Return your completed ballot to your county Board of Elections by 7:30 pm!
      • DO NOT take it to your normal polling place

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  • Option #2 — You can go vote in-person at your Election Day polling place!
      • You will just vote a provisional ballot
      • Find your polling place at VoteOhio.gov

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VOTING IN-PERSON ON ELECTION DAY

(11/3/26)

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Facts — Elections and Voting in Ohio

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PUBLIC: Whether or not you vote

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PRIVATE: Who you vote for

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Want to stop all the political texts, calls, and emails? Vote early.

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In Ohio, the ONLY time someone with a criminal record cannot vote is if they are CURRENTLY in prison for a FELONY CONVICTION.

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Voting in Ohio is NOT restricted by pretrial detention, misdemeanors, probation, or parole

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*but you may not be able to use the online voter registration system

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Provisional Voting

If you vote early and are forced to vote provisionally, can you go to your county Board of Elections and cure your ballot early too!

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Not Permitted

Permitted

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Ohio Election Resources

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Elections and Voting in Ohio

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VoteOhio.gov

Scroll Down

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VoteOhio.gov → (Scroll down pretty far…) → Cast Your Vote

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VoteOhio.gov → View Your Sample Ballot

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See what’s on your ballot:��Vote411.org/Ohio

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Vote411.org/ballot

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You can text this number too!

Ohio Dems’ voter protection hotline (any Ohio voter can use it!)

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Key Races on Ohio’s 2026 Ballot

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Critically Important Race — U.S. Senate

vs.

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Critically Important Race — Governor

vs.

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+they sit on the redistricting commission!

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Critically Important Races — Ohio House (and Senate): �

BlueOhio.org/2026-nominees

For the first time in years, Democrats have a real chance to break Ohio Republican legislative supermajority

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Just 6 seats in the Ohio House would alter the state dynamic significantly

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Critically Important Race — Secretary of State

vs.

The Secretary of State (SOS) runs Ohio’s elections and sits on the Redistricting Commission

When Ohioans gather signatures to try and amend the constitution or change state law, the SOS leads the board that writes the ballot language

The secretary of state can make voting accessible for all Ohio citizens — or they can block access to the ballot

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Critically Important Race — State Auditor

vs.

A good State Auditor acts as the “taxpayers’’s watchdog,” ensuring that public money is spent legally, honestly, and effectively + they sit on the Redistricting Commission!

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Critically Important Race — Attorney General

vs.

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Election Day — November 3, 2026 — Key U.S House Races

OH-9

vs.

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Election Day — November 3, 2026 — Key U.S House Races

vs.

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Election Day — November 3, 2026 — Key U.S. House Races

vs.

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On Your Ballot — November 3, 2026 — Issue 3

Issue 3: Proposed Constitutional Amendment to enshrine Ohio’s current voting laws — the most restrictive photo ID laws in the country — into the state Constitution

Vote NO on Issue 3

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On Your Ballot — So many important races

  • State Treasurer
  • 2 Supreme Court Races
  • County Commissioners / Executives
  • County Auditors
  • Municipal Judges

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  • LOCAL LEVIES AND BONDS!!!!
    • Levies decide if local services will get new or continued funding through local property or income tax
    • Schools are the most common type of levy
        • Many Ohio school levies this year are make or break. If the levy fails, the schools will cut classes, programs, sports, teachers, staff, & more
    • Public safety levies that fund police and fire departments
    • Levies that fund libraries, social services, and parks

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PeopleUnitedForPublicschools.com → 2026 Voter Guide

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PeopleUnitedForPublicschools.com → 2026 Voter Guide

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(Just a Few) Ways to Engage in Democracy in Ohio

    • Vote in every election! (not just presidential)

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    • Share accurate voting information
      • VoteOhio.gov
      • County Boards of Elections
      • League of Women Voters
      • Common Cause
      • Ohio Voter Rights Coalition
      • Vote411.org

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    • Serve as a poll worker
      • OhioSoS.gov/elections/poll-worker-recruitment

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    • Volunteer with Election Protection
      • ProtectTheVote.net/#enroll
      • 866ourvote.org/volunteer/

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OhioSoS.gov/elections/poll-worker-recruitment

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VoteOhio.gov

Scroll Down

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VoteOhio.gov

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OhioVoterRights.org

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Looking for a sign? Here it is.

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Thinking about it?

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    • Contact your local political party. Set up a meeting.

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    • Check out LEADohio.org and consider attending a candidate training

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OhioSoS.gov → Elections & Voting → Candidate Resources

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QUESTIONS?

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Absentee Voting

VoteOhio.gov → Cast Your Vote → Request an Absentee Ballot