Your guide to the Nov. 5 General Election in Ohio
Election Day is Nov. 5, but WTOL 11 wants to make sure you're prepared ahead of time. Find out when the polls open, what's on the ballot, where to vote and more.
The countdown is on and we are less than two months away from Election Day for the 2024 General Election.
Early voting begins even sooner with less than a month to go. It's the perfect time to start preparing, especially if you're undecided or have not yet registered to vote.
While your vote serves as an answer to questions on the ballot, there are plenty of other questions you may have before you even reach the polls. What's the deadline to register? When are the polls open? What's on the ballot? When do results come in?
Read on to find the answers to some of your biggest questions and more for voters statewide and right here in northwest Ohio.
WHO'S ON MY BALLOT? Statewide candidates
The following candidates will be present on all Ohio ballots across the state:
PRESIDENTIAL
- Donald J. Trump and JD Vance (Republican)
- Kamala D. Harris and Tim Walz (Democratic)
- Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat (Libertarian)
- Richard Duncan and Mitchell Preston Bupp (Independent)*
- Peter Sonski and Lauren Onak (Independent)*
- Jill Stein and Anita Rios (Independent)*
* The designation “independent” will not appear on the ballot. Independent candidates choose to appear on the ballot as “nonparty candidate” or “other-party candidate.”
NOTE: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan will not be present on the Ohio ballot following Kennedy's withdrawal from the race.
US SENATE
- Bernie Moreno (Republican) previously certified
- Sherrod Brown (Democratic) previously certified
- Donald C. Kissick (Libertarian)
OHIO SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
- Lisa Forbes (Democratic) (Unexpired term)
- Daniel R. Hawkins (Republican) (Unexpired term)
- Michael P. Donnelly (Democratic) (Term commencing Jan. 1, 2025)
- Megan E. Shanahan (Republican) (Term commencing Jan. 1, 2025)
- Joseph T. Deters ( Republican) (Term commencing Jan. 2, 2025)
- Melody J. Stewart (Democratic) (Term commencing Jan. 2, 2025)
ELECTION DAY When and where you can vote
WHEN IS ELECTION DAY?
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
WHEN ARE THE POLLS OPEN?
Polls are open throughout Ohio from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. for in-person voting on Nov. 5.
You will be allowed to vote as long as you're in line before the polls close at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE IS MY POLLING PLACE?
You can find your polling location in Ohio HERE.
WHAT IS ON MY BALLOT?
Once ballots are finalized, CLICK HERE to see a sample of your local ballot in Ohio so you can prepare yourself before heading to the polls.
VOTER REGISTRATION AND IDENTIFICATION How to register, requirements and deadline
REGISTER TO VOTE
You can register to vote online at the Ohio Secretary of State's Office website HERE.
To register online, you need to have and submit these items:
- Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
If you are missing any of those items, you will need to fill out a paper form, sign and send it to your county board of elections. That form is also available on the Ohio Secretary of State's website at this link. If you do not have access to a computer or printer, most public libraries will be able to assist you.
If you are a Safe at Home participant, you should contact the Safe at Home office before continuing online registration.
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE
To be eligible to vote, you must register or update your voter registration no later than 30 days before an election.
For the Nov. 5 General Election, the deadline to register is Oct. 7. Boards of election are open until 9 p.m. on Oct. 7.
OHIO VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS
Valid types of photo identification include:
- Ohio driver's license
- State of Ohio ID card
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
- US passport
- US passport card
- US military ID card
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
All photo IDs must have an expiration date that has not passed and the voter's name that "substantially conforms" to the poll list or poll book.
If your form of identification does not match your current address in the pollbook, you can use an unexpired Ohio Driver License, State ID Card or Interim Documentation with your former address as a form of ID.
NOTE: Although Ohio driver's licenses and IDs can now be added to your Apple Wallet, you will still need your physical ID to vote. If you only have a digital ID, you will have to follow the requirements for voters who do not have their ID on Election Day.
WHAT IF YOU FORGET YOUR ID ON ELECTION DAY?
You will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. However, for your ballot to count, you must return to the board of elections no later than four days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification.
According to Ohio law, the following forms of ID will not be accepted:
- Out-of-state driver’s license or photo ID
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- Insurance card
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Other government document
- Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections
WHAT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ID?
Ohioans who are 17 or older and do not have a driver license can receive a state ID at no cost from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Click HERE for more information.
EARLY, ABSENTEE AND ACCESSIBLE VOTING Guidelines and important dates
EARLY VOTING
Early in-person voting begins Oct. 8 and includes the two Saturdays and two Sundays before Election Day. For locations and a schedule of early voting hours for October and November, click HERE.
ABSENTEE VOTING
Absentee voting by mail begins Oct. 8.
ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is the close of business seven days before Election Day. A separate ballot request must be submitted for each election.
For absentee ballots to count, they must be received before polls close on Election Day.
Alternatively, absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received no later than four days after polls close.
TRACK YOUR BALLOT
If you voted absentee, you can track the status of your ballot HERE on the Ohio Secretary of State's website.
ACCESSIBLE VOTING
Remote ballot marking systems are available for use if a voter has a qualifying disability outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. The system allows those who qualify to mark their ballots privately and on their own, according to the Ohio Secretary of State's office.
You are not required to say what your qualifying disability is, but you do have to confirm that you are eligible to receive your ballot under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you are a qualifying voter and would like to request an absentee ballot and use a remote ballot system to mark your ballot, you can do the following:
- Fill out this online form at the Ohio Secretary of State's website at this link: sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/11-g/
- Once filled out, click "Download & Print" at the bottom of the page
- Open the downloaded file and verify the information
- Print the downloaded document, sign it, put the completed form in an envelope with postage, and mail it to your county board of elections as listed in the state's directory at this link
If you do not have a printer, you can call your county board of elections to request an application by mail.
AFTER THE ELECTION Find results on WTOL 11
WHAT TIME WILL RESULTS COME IN?
The first results should come in shortly after 7:30 p.m. when the polls close. Absentee ballots are counted first, according to the Secretary of State's office.
WHERE CAN I FIND RESULTS?
You can watch WTOL 11 live on air for the latest updates as we receive them. You can also stream WTOL 11 on our website or on our streaming app, WTOL 11+, which is available for free on Fire TV, Roku and online at wtol.com/watch.
After the polls close, WTOL 11 News at 11 p.m. will have live team coverage with a breakdown of results, reactions, expert analysis and more.
Extended coverage
To view results on our website, visit the "Elections" page at wtol.com/election, which will be active the night of Election Day.
Breaking updates and results will be available through the free WTOL 11 News app and push alerts. You can find the WTOL 11 News app at the following links for Google Play or the Apple app store, or by searching your favorite app store for "WTOL 11: Toledo's News Leader."
Wake up with WTOL 11 News starting at 4 a.m. on Nov. 6 for more updates and a recap of Election Day and election night coverage.
SHARE YOUR STICKER
Did you get an "I Voted" sticker? Share it with us by texting your name, location and photo to 419-248-1100 or by submitting it through "Near Me" in the WTOL 11 News app.
You can also download a virtual "I Voted" sticker HERE.
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