Early voting begins in Ohio's March 2024 primary: how, where and when to vote
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Early voting has begun in an election that will determine which candidates for major state and national races will appear on November ballots.
Early in-person and absentee voting started Wednesday in the March primary election. Voters can cast ballots most days leading up to the weekend before Election Day, so long as they come with photo identification.
Voters will decide on several important primary races, including for Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, Democratic nominee for the Ohio Supreme Court and, in central Ohio, Democratic nominee for the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. A bevy of school board levies and local races will also appear on the ballot.
"In a lot of instances, the primaries are the race that will, for all intents and purposes, pick the race," Franklin County Board of Elections spokesperson Aaron Sellers said.
Because Ohio's primaries are considered partially open, voters can choose whichever party's ballot they wish to vote with. Unless requesting an issues-only ballot, voters who select a party's primary ballot will be registered with that party for the next two years.
A photo ID is required to vote early in person at county boards of elections. Valid forms of photo ID include an Ohio driver's license, a U.S. passport or passport, U.S. military ID, an Ohio National Guard ID, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID or an Ohio ID card, available for free at Ohio bureau of motor vehicle locations. Out-of-state licenses are not valid IDs.
If you don't have a valid form of photo ID, you can vote by mail without it. You must first submit an absentee ballot request form, available on the Secretary of State’s website, by mail or in person. Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by March 18 or returned in person to county elections boards by the time polls close on March 19.
Here's when you can vote early in the March primary election:
- Feb. 21-23: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Feb. 26-March 1: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- March 4-8: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- March 9: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
- March 11: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
- March 12: 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
- March 13-15: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
- March 16: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
- March 17: 1-5 p.m.
View your sample ballot and find your polling location on the Secretary of State's website.