Early voting in Ohio is happening now as we await Election Day on May 5, which is only a few days away. Ohioans will soon decide which Ohio candidates they want to see on the ballot for the November midterm elections.
Do you plan to vote through a mail-in ballot? Is it too late to submit your vote? Here’s what you need to know.
What has changed with Ohio’s mail-in ballots?
If you’re voting by mail-in ballot, there are some changes you should know about.
Signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine in December 2025, Senate Bill 293 requires absentee ballots to arrive by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted, with an exception for military and overseas voters.
Any mail-in or absentee ballots must now be received before or on Election Day by 7:30 p.m. in order to be counted. There is no longer a four-day grace period after Election Day.
Ohio’s primary election is May 5. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.
So, when should you send your mail-in ballot in Ohio? The sooner the better. The U.S. Postal Service does not necessarily postmark your mail the day it is received unless you specifically request it. So, your ballot may not make it to a postal processing center until the day after you drop it in a mailbox.
Is it too late to send in an Ohio mail-in ballot?
It’s not too late, as long as it is received by an Ohio Board of Elections location by Election Day on May 5 by 7:30 p.m.
Instead of mailing your ballot and risking delays, here is where you can drop it off in your Ohio county:
When does Ohio early voting start and end? Key dates for early, absentee, mail-in voting
The primary election will be held May 5, 2026, according to this year’s voting schedule.
Early in‑person voting began on April 7 and includes the Saturday and Sunday before Election Day. Absentee voting by mail also began on April 7.
On Election Day, May 5, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received by your local board of elections by 7:30 p.m., per the voting schedule.
Ohio voter registration deadlines for 2026 elections
Ohioans must register or update their voter registration no later than 30 days before an election. The registration deadline for the May 5 primary was April 6, 2026.
Ohioans planning to vote on Election Day 2026 have until Oct. 5, 2026, to register.
If you register or update your information after the deadline, the changes will apply for the next election.
Alex Perry contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio primary mail-in ballots due Election Day. See all drop-off locations
Reporting by Mariyam Muhammad, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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