Check your existing registration
Search by name and county, then open your record to verify the address.
Check statusOhio State student guide2026 General Election
Your Ohio vote.One clear plan.
Check your registration, choose how you'll vote, and know exactly what to bring. This guide is for Ohio State students voting in Franklin County on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Nonpartisan information only. No candidates, parties, or ballot positions are endorsed.
01Checkyour status today
02Registerby Oct. 5
03Choosemail, early, or Election Day
04Voteby Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
70%
of Gen Z participates in a social or political cause
Source50%
of eligible voters ages 18-29 voted in 2020
CIRCLE47%
of eligible voters ages 18-29 voted in 2024
CIRCLE23%
of eligible voters ages 18-29 voted in the 2022 midterm
CIRCLE01 · Get registered
Start with the address where you plan to vote.
Ohio State's Columbus campus crosses multiple precincts. Your registration address determines your Election Day polling place and your exact ballot.
October 5 is the deadline - not the day to start.
Official instructionsOnline registration requires an Ohio driver license or State of Ohio ID number plus the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have those items, use the paper form and mail it early.
Use your residence hall's physical street address.
Use the address labeled “Physical Address and for Food Delivery” as your voting residence. If your mail is delivered to a different package center, add that separate address in the paper form's “Additional Mailing Address” field.
Register or update online
Use the secure Ohio Secretary of State registration system.
Register onlineComplete a paper form
Print, sign, add postage, and send it well before the deadline.
Open paper form02 · Vote by mail
Ohio absentee voting, envelope by envelope.
Any Ohio voter with up-to-date registration may vote absentee - no reason required. You must request a ballot for this election, then return the completed ballot on time.
Plan dateOCT 09
Request early to leave time for two mail trips.
Official request deadlineOCT 27 · 8:30 PM
Your county board must receive the signed application.
Ballot receipt deadlineNOV 03 · 7:30 PM
Your completed ballot must be received - not merely postmarked.
1
Request your absentee ballot
Complete the Ohio application, print it, verify every field, sign it, and mail or deliver it to the Franklin County Board of Elections.
Open the official application2
Mark your ballot
Follow the included instructions. Keep the numbered stub attached unless your instructions say otherwise. Place only the voted ballot in the identification envelope.
3
Complete the identification envelope
Print your name and registered address, add your birth date, provide one accepted identifier, and sign. The easiest identifier for many voters is the last four digits of the Social Security number.
4
Nest, seal, add postage, and return
Seal the ballot inside the identification envelope. Put that sealed envelope inside the pre-addressed return envelope, seal it, add sufficient postage, and send it early. Track it after mailing.
Mailing the applicationStandard envelope layout
YOUR NAME
YOUR RETURN ADDRESS
CITY, OH ZIP
YOUR RETURN ADDRESS
CITY, OH ZIP
POSTAGE
ABSENTEE DEPARTMENTFRANKLIN COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
P.O. BOX 182111
COLUMBUS, OH 43218-2111
- Return address: top left
- Board address: center
- Postage: top right
Pre-addressed return envelope
Signed + sealed identification envelope
Voted ballot only
Ballot → ID envelope → return envelope
Common mistakes that can delay counting
- Forgetting to sign the identification envelope
- Leaving required ID information blank
- Putting the ballot directly in the outer return envelope
- Waiting until Election Day to put the ballot in the mail
03 · Vote in person
Bring the right ID. Go to the right place.
Ohio uses the same photo ID rules for early in-person voting and Election Day voting. Your BuckID and an out-of-state driver license are not accepted.
Tuesday, November 3
6:30 AM — 7:30 PM
If you are in line by 7:30 p.m., stay in line - you may still vote.
Find polling place & sample ballotOctober 6 - November 1
Franklin County Board of Elections1700 Morse Road, Columbus, OH 43229
Hours vary by date, with evening and weekend hours near Election Day.
See full early-voting scheduleOhio photo ID
Bring one valid, unexpired option
Your ID may show an old address.
Your name must substantially match the poll book, and your registration must have the correct current address.
No accepted ID?
You may cast a provisional ballot, then provide acceptable photo ID to the board within four days after Election Day.
Need a free Ohio State ID?
Ohio residents age 17+ can obtain a free State ID. VoteRiders may help with required documents.
04 · Know your ballot
What this election can shape.
Every OSU-area ballot is address-specific. The statewide contests below appear in the official Ohio ballot order; district and local contests vary by precinct.
U.S. Senate & U.S. House
Federal laws, spending, oversight, and national policy. The Senate also votes on many presidential appointments.
Governor through Treasurer
State agencies, budgets, legal representation, public audits, elections and business records, and stewardship of state funds.
State Senate & State House
Ohio laws and the state budget, including decisions affecting education, transportation, health, and public services.
Supreme, appeals & trial courts
Interpret Ohio law and the state constitution, hear appeals, and decide civil and criminal cases within their jurisdiction.
Commissioner & Auditor
County budgets and services; property appraisal and other fiscal duties. Exact local contests depend on your address.
STATE3ISSUE
Statewide constitutional amendment
Photo identification for voting
The official ballot says the amendment would add a requirement to the Ohio Constitution for approved government-issued photo ID when voting. It also addresses identity verification for voters with a sincere religious objection to being photographed and for voters who do not vote in person. If approved, it would take effect immediately.
YESmeans approval of the amendment
NOmeans disapproval of the amendment
This is a neutral summary of the certified ballot language, not an argument for either position. Read the full official wording before voting.
Read the official Ohio sample ballotFind every race and local issue on your exact ballot
Search by your registered address. Local levies, municipal questions, and liquor options can differ by precinct and may be added as the county completes ballot preparation.
05 · Why vote
Your generation already shows up for causes. Voting is another way to be counted.
Our goal is simple: help students become informed, register, and show up. This campaign is not about a political party. It is about making sure your voice is part of decisions that affect students, families, and communities.
Young-voter turnout reached 50% in 2020 and 47% in 2024, but only 23% of eligible young people voted in the 2022 midterm. CIRCLE also found that only 2 in 5 young people felt well-qualified to participate in politics. Clear information can help close that gap.
Review the youth participation research06 · Make your plan real
I pledge to vote.
I pledge to vote in the Tuesday, November 3, 2026 general election, make a voting plan, and use trusted information to prepare.
Register or confirm by October 5
Choose mail, early, or Election Day
Know the deadline, place, and ID rules
Signing this pledge does not ask how you will vote and does not support or oppose any candidate, party, or ballot position.
Quick answers