Ohio Voter Guide: Polls Open Tuesday 6:30 A.M.–7:30 P.M.
Editorial illustration — Press Pass USATuesday, November 3, is Election Day in Ohio. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m., and anyone in line by 7:30 p.m. has the right to vote, even if they have not yet reached the check-in table.
Where do I vote? On Election Day, go to your assigned precinct polling place — which is not necessarily where you voted early. Check your polling place before you leave at VoteOhio.gov, the Ohio Secretary of State's election site, or contact your county board of elections. Early in-person voting already ended Sunday, November 1, so Tuesday's only in-person option is your assigned polling place.
What ID do I bring? Ohio requires an unexpired photo ID. Accepted forms include an Ohio driver's license, state ID card, or interim identification form from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles; a U.S. passport or passport card; and a U.S. military ID, military dependent ID, Ohio National Guard ID, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID. Not accepted: utility bills, bank statements, Social Security cards, out-of-state driver's licenses, and Ohio Mobile ID — bring the physical document. Voters without an acceptable ID may cast a provisional ballot and then show ID at the board of elections within four days.
What is on the ballot in Ohio? Voters will choose a governor and lieutenant governor: Democrat Amy Acton, running with David Pepper, against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, running with Robert McColley (Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited). They will also decide a U.S. Senate special election: Republican Jon Husted, appointed in January 2025 to fill the seat JD Vance vacated on becoming vice president, against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, for the final two years of that term. Also on the ballot: all 15 of Ohio's U.S. House seats, statewide offices for secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, and auditor, all 99 Ohio House seats and 17 Ohio Senate seats, two Ohio Supreme Court seats, and State Issue 3, which asks whether the photo ID requirement for voting should be written into the state constitution. Local races and issues vary by address: check your sample ballot on the Secretary of State's site.
What if I already voted early? Nothing more is needed. Ohio closed early voting with a midterm record: nearly 1.5 million Ohioans had already voted by Friday afternoon, October 30, above the early-vote totals from the 2022 and 2018 midterms. If you still hold a mail ballot, note that it must reach your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Ohio no longer has a grace period for ballots arriving after Election Day (with an exception for military and overseas voters). You can return it in person to the board of elections.
After the polls close: Election Night totals are unofficial. Valid provisional ballots and timely military and overseas ballots are reviewed in the official canvass before certification. For questions about your registration, polling place, or ballot, the Secretary of State can be reached at 877-767-6446 and at VoteOhio.gov.
Sources: Ohio Secretary of State (poll hours, photo ID, and sample ballots via VoteOhio.gov); The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio election FAQ (November 1–2, 2026); Ohio Independent, Ohio's 2026 races; Ohio Secretary of State early-voting data (October 30–31, 2026).
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