Let’s

Register

Voters !

LWV of the Akron Area: lwvaa.org

LWV of Ohio: lwvohio.org

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Why is voter registration important?

• Nothing is more important than voter registration this year.
• New laws are making voter suppression and disenfranchisement possible.
• Helping voters get registered is a way to counteract the top-down attempts to discourage and disenfranchise voters.

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Who can register voters?

• There are no restrictions in Ohio on who can help register voters.
• We want to avoid mistakes that might cause a voter registration form to be rejected. That’s why we are here today.

���Who can register to vote?�

Anyone who is:

• A United States citizen
• An Ohio resident for at least 30 days before the election
• At least 18 by the general election (11/3/26)
• Not currently serving a felony conviction
• Not declared incompetent for purposes of voting by a probate court (even if a legal guardian has been assigned)

Persuading reluctant citizens

• Voting is our right and responsibility as citizens.
• We make ourselves heard by people who have the power to get things done. They have power because we give them the power to act for us.
• Voting tells others what is important to us and what we want those in power to do.
• We help make sure that people in our community get the services they need, like health care, housing, public transportation, and funding for schools.

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Persuading reluctant citizens

• Jury pools are drawn from lists of citizens with a driver’s license, so not registering to vote does not keep someone from being called for jury duty.

�Help eligible persons register

Is the person already registered?

• Check online at (Summit County voters)
• https://www.boe.ohio.gov/summit/

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• Statewide search
• https://voterlookup.ohiosos.gov/voterlookup.aspx

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Registering to vote

• Voters must be registered by October 5 to vote in the 2026 general election.
• Voter registration is also available online at https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/
• Ask the applicant to print legibly with a blue or black pen.
• Guide them as they fill out the form and check it when complete.

Voter Registration Form

New form !

New rules in HB 74

• In general only the applicant can fill in the form.
• BUT: An applicant who is legally blind, has a disability, or is unable to read can have someone fill out the form. The person assisting an applicant must complete and sign the attestation section of the form.

New !

Voter Registration Form: �Check boxes

Voter Registration Form: �Personal information

New identification requirement

• Previously applicants could opt to give the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number. Now, an applicant who has a driver’s license or state ID card must give that number.
• Only an applicant who has not been issued an Ohio driver’s license or state ID card can give the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number.
• An applicant with neither an Ohio driver’s license nor a state ID card nor a Social Security Number must check the box in the identification section.

New!

Special considerations for students

• Encourage students to use the paper registration form.
• Students can choose to register at their campus address or their parent’s Ohio address.
• If they use their parent’s address, will they be home to vote in person or will they vote by mail?
• To vote in person an unexpired photo ID is required to vote. Ohio students can get a free state ID card at the BMV. Contact VoteRiders for help getting an ID at 866-ID-2-VOTE or www.voteriders.com

Phone number

• Not required, but helpful for the Board of Elections if they have trouble reading anything on the form or for any other question they may have.

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• ”We can text you a reminder to vote if you include your phone number.”

Voter Registration Form: �Updating name or address

Voter Registration Form: �Signature and date

Signature

• A voter who is unable to sign may write an X on the signature line and have someone who witnesses that mark sign the form.
• A voter who is unable to sign may also use assistive technology or a device such as a signature stamp to sign the voter registration form.

Voter Registration Form: �Attestation by assistant

After registering

The voter will receive a postcard or letter from the Board of Elections before Election Day notifying them of their precinct and the address of their polling location.

The voter should check the letter to make sure everything is accurate and call the Board of Elections if there is a problem or if no letter arrives.

Possible snags

IF an applicant doesn’t have a driver’s license

IF an applicant’s driver’s license indicates they are a non-citizen

IF BMV and registration data don’t match

IF there is some other problem with the registration

The voter will be placed in CONFIRMATION STATUS. They will receive a letter asking for proof of citizenship or to resolve data mismatch. This issue must be resolved before Election Day. If not, the voter will have to vote provisionally and “cure” the ballot within 4 days after Election day. If not ”cured,” the voter may be removed from the rolls.

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Proof of citizenship status IF requested by Board of Elections

• Current OH driver’s license or state ID card number, if SOS verifies with BMV that the person has submitted proof of citizenship to BMV
• Current OH driver’s license or state ID or a front-and-back copy, with no noncitizen designation
• Current US passport or passport card or copy thereof
• Certificate of naturalization or copy thereof
• I-797 notice of action for form N-565, if approved or copy thereof
• And proof of name change if the names differ

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Step 3: Vote!

Help new voters get information

Where to find information

• Vote 411 website: The League of Women Voters provides factual information about voting, issues and candidates. The League does not endorse candidates or political parties. https://www.vote411.org/ballot

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• Summit County Board of Elections website: You can find a sample ballot for an upcoming election here. https://www.boe.ohio.gov/summit/

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�Help voters prepare to vote

Choices for voting

• Early by mail
• Early in-person
• In-person on Election Day

Early voting by mail

Early voting by mail�

• Any registered voter can vote by mail without a reason or excuse.
• The voter must complete an Absentee Ballot Application.
• Absentee Ballot Applications can be found at Secretary of State website: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-voting

Absentee Ballot Application

Absentee Ballot Application

• The voter can fill out all highlighted fields of the form OR complete it online at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-administration/forms-and-petitions/absentee-ballot-application-html-to-pdf
• The voter must provide one form of identification:
• Last 4 digits of Social Security number
• Ohio driver’s license number or state ID card number
• Photocopy of a current photo ID (US passport, US military ID, US Department of Veterans Affairs ID)
• Mark the box for the November General Election.

Absentee Ballot Application

• The voter signs and dates the form and mails or delivers it in time for it to reach the Board of Elections by October 27, 2026.
• Absentee Ballot Applications are mailed or delivered to:

Summit County Board Of Elections

1050 East Tallmadge Avenue

Akron, Ohio 44310

Absentee ballot

• The voter will receive their ballot in the mail.
• The voter completes and signs the ballot and returns the voted ballot using the enclosed return envelope.
• The safest way to mail the ballot is to take it to the Post Office and have the Post Office employee check to make sure it has enough postage.
• A ballot can be delivered in person to the Summit County Board of Elections at 1050 East Tallmadge Avenue, Akron.
• Someone the voter designates can also deliver your ballot by taking it into the Board of Elections at 1050 East Tallmadge Avenue and signing a form.

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Absentee ballot�

The voter must deliver or mail the ballot to:

Summit County Board Of Elections

1050 East Tallmadge Avenue

Akron, Ohio 44310

The Board of Elections must receive the ballot by 7:30 pm on November 3, 2026.

Track the ballot at voteohio.gov/track

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���Advantages: �Early voting by mail

• Voting by mail allows the voter to vote from the safety and comfort of their own home at a convenient time.
• Someone the voter chooses can help them complete the ballot.
• A photo I.D. is not required.
• If the voter is sick on Election Day or the weather is bad, they can stay home.

���Disadvantages: �Early voting by mail

• The ballot must get to the Board of Elections in time.
• The voter must deliver your ballot, or find an eligible person willing to deliver the ballot, or mail the ballot.
• If the ballot is mailed, the voter is required to provide postage (stamps).

Form for family member �delivering a ballot

Form for other designated person delivering a ballot

Voting by �Absentee Ballot

Early voting

in person

New location!

Early voting in person

• Early voting begins the day after voter registration closes. beginning October 6, 2026.
• All early in-person voting takes place at:

Summit County Board Of Elections

1050 East Tallmadge Avenue

Akron, Ohio 44310

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New location!

Early voting in person�

The voter must show a valid government-issued photo identification.

• Unexpired Ohio driver's license or State of Ohio ID card (address does not have to match registration address)
• Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
• A US passport or US passport card
• US military ID card or Ohio National Guard ID card
• US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

Rights when voting in person

• The voter can bring any needed materials—including a phone, pamphlets, voter guides, or personal notes.
• The voter has the right to vote alone, if that’s what they prefer.
• The voter can have help with voting from anyone they choose, except a candidate on the ballot in that precinct, their employer or a union representative.
• The voter has the right to take as long as needed to vote.

• The Early Voting Center is accessible for people with physical disabilities.
• A voter who is physically unable to enter the building has the option of curbside voting at designated curbside parking places at the Board of Elections.

Curbside voting�

���Advantages: �Early voting in person

• The voter decides when to vote, during scheduled dates and times.
• A voter can use curbside voting if unable to enter the building.
• The voter can choose someone to help complete the ballot correctly – but not to say how to vote.
• If the voter is sick on Election Day or the weather is bad, they can stay home.

���Disadvantages: �Early voting in person

• A voter who lives far from Tallmadge Avenue in Akron may be hard to get to the Summit County Board of Elections.
• Voting is limited to scheduled dates and times.
• There may be a line to vote.
• The voter must show a government-issued I.D. such as a driver’s license or state I.D. card.

Voting on Election Day

Voting on Election Day�

• Election Day voting is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
• Voting hours: 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• The voter must vote at their designated polling place, not at the Board of Elections.

Acceptable forms of identification

The voter must show a valid government-issued photo identification.

• Unexpired Ohio driver's license or State of Ohio ID card (address does not have to match registration address)
• Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
• A US passport or US passport card
• US military ID card or Ohio National Guard ID card
• US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

Voting on Election Day�

• Instructions for marking and casting a ballot are posted in each polling place
• Precinct Election Officials are able to answer questions about marking, casting, or correcting a ballot.
• The voter must vote for no more than the number of choices indicated for each race or issue.

���Advantages: �Voting on Election Day

• Your polling place is generally close to home.
• The voter can vote any time from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
• The voter can choose someone to help them complete the ballot correctly – but they can’t say how to vote.

���Disadvantages: �Voting on Election Day

• The voter may be too sick on Election Day to go to the polling place.
• The weather may be bad on Election Day and the voter may not want to go to the polling place.
• There may be a long line to vote.
• The voter must show a government-issued I.D.

• Early voting? When will you vote? Pick a day that works for you.
• In-person voting? How will you get to the Early Vote Center or to your polling place? Make a plan for transportation.
• Voting on Election Day? Where is your polling place? How far away is it? Your polling place may have changed since the last election. Confirm the location before Election Day.
• What will you need help with? Who will help you? Make a plan for assistance.

Encourage the voter: �Make a plan to vote

Questions?

Useful resources

• Ohio Secretary of State: www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/
• 2026 elections calendar: Voting Calendar | When Voting Occurs in Ohio
• List of key dates: 2026 Voting Schedule (Text Only)
• Summit County Board of Elections: https://www.summitcountyboe.gov/
• Vote411.org
• Election Protection: Election Protection | Ohio Voter Rights Coalition
• Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE 866-687-8683

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