It’s Primary Election Day in Ohio, with Ohioans heading to the polls to vote in party primaries for offices ranging from governor and U.S. Senate to Congress, the Ohio Supreme Court and local races.
The primary will determine each party’s nominees for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
Here’s what voters need to know about polling hours, deadlines and what’s on the ballot.
What time do Ohio polls close on May 5?
On Election Day, May 5, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to this year’s voting schedule.
As long as you are in line at your polling place by 7:30 p.m., you are allowed to vote, even if you do not actually cast your ballot until after 7:30 p.m.
When is the deadline for submitting mail-in ballots?
Absentee ballots must be received by your local board of elections by 7:30 p.m., per the voting schedule. Ohio no longer allows a four-day grace period for mail-in ballots.
Ballots mailed on Election Day are unlikely to be received in time to count. Ballots would need to be dropped off at county boards of elections by 7:30 p.m.
What ID do I need to bring to the polls?
Voters must bring an unexpired, government‑issued photo ID to their polling place. According to the Ohio Secretary of State website, acceptable forms of ID include:
What’s on the statewide ballot for Ohio’s May 5 primary?
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Voting today in Ohio? Poll hours, what’s on the primary election ballot
Reporting by Alex Perry, Mariyam Muhammad, Nathan Hart, Haley BeMiller, Laura A. Bischoff and Jessie Balmert, USA TODAY NETWORK / Cincinnati Enquirer
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