Want to cast your ballot by mail in Ohio’s primary election? The deadline to apply is fast approaching.
Ohio voters will choose a new governor as well as other statewide and county offices and pick a U.S. senator in 2026. With six months until the November election, a recent poll by Bowling Green State University shows both the governor’s race and the senate race are statistical ties.
Early in-person voting is already underway for the Ohio primary, as well as absentee voting by mail, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s election calendar. If you want to cast a vote by mail, you need to apply. And the deadline to submit those applications is soon.
Here’s a look at some key dates and what you need to know about this year’s primary election.
What is the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in Ohio?
Applications for an absentee ballot in the May primary must be received by the voter’s board of elections by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28.
When does absentee voting begin in Ohio?
Absentee voting by mail started Tuesday, April 7. Military and overseas absentee voting began March 20.
What is the deadline to submit absentee ballots in Ohio?
Mailed absentee ballots must be received by the voter’s county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. That’s a change from previous years, when a grace period allowed the state to count ballots that were returned after Election Day.
When is the primary election in Ohio?
Ohio’s primary election is Tuesday, May 5.
What is the deadline to register to vote in Ohio?
The deadline to register to vote for the primary was Monday, April 6, according to the Ohio secretary of state.
If you missed this deadline, you can register to vote by Oct. 5 for the Nov. 3 general election.
How to register to vote in Ohio
You can register to vote online via the secretary of state’s office or VoteOhio.gov. You can also register by mail using the National Mail Voter Registration form available on the Ohio Secretary of State website, or in person at boards of elections, public libraries and Bureau of Motor Vehicles locations.
To register online, you will need to have the following information:
When is early voting in Ohio?
Early in-person voting also began April 7. You can find a list of early voting locations by county at the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. Hours are:
When are the polls open on Election Day?
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 5.
Who is on the Ohio primary ballot in 2026?
Statewide candidates on the ballot for the May 5 primary election in contested races include:
Votes for Hill-Moats will not count in the primary. Moats resigned from the race, ending Hill’s campaign.
There will also be some county offices and local issues on the May ballot.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Want to vote by mail in Ohio? Deadline approaches. Key dates for 2026
Reporting by Chad Murphy, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
