Stay informed about key dates, polling locations, sample ballots, and more for the 2026 Primary Election with the following voting guide.
Election day for the 2026 Primary Election is May 5, 2026.
Voting in the 2026 Primary Election is an essential opportunity to make your voice heard, and understanding the process is key to a smooth experience. Ohio voters can cast their ballot in person or by absentee mail. From finding your polling place to ensuring you have the proper identification, knowing the steps ahead from this voting guide will help ensure that your vote is counted.
Use the links below to jump ahead to a desired section:
- How, when, and where to vote
- Who to vote for
- Overcoming common barriers
- How do I…
- Voter protection & help
How, when, and where to vote
Find key dates, polling locations, voting options, and ID requirements for the 2026 Primary Election.
Important dates for the Ohio Primary Election
Early in Person Voting Hours:
April 28: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
April 29-30: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
May 1: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
May 2: 8 p.m. – 4 p.m.
May 3: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
April 28: Absentee Ballot Return Deadline April 28, 8:30 p.m.
May 5: Election Day, polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots, returned in person or via a method other than U.S. Mail, must be received by the boards of elections by the close of polls
Related Article: How Do I Get a Real ID? Required Documents, FAQs, & More
Know your ballot and who to vote for
Voter guides and sample ballots include the candidates and the state or local issues up for a vote. Reviewing them before you go to the polls can help you make an informed decision about who to vote for. View a full list of candidates.
Voter guides
Voter guides provide background information on the candidates and ballot measures. They list the candidates you can vote for and provide details on each candidate’s experience and goals. They also explain ballot measures, which are specific questions or issues you can approve or reject.
You can save your choices online and print or email your personalized ballot to bring to the polls. Regional newspapers and issue-specific organizations often produce voter guides.
Sample ballots
Sample ballots simply show you the elections, candidates, and any ballot measures that will be on your real ballot. They do not provide information about the candidates like voter guides do. The sample ballot may resemble the actual one.
Some nonprofit organizations produce unofficial sample ballots. These ballots may not look the same as what you will see when you vote, but they provide the same information.
Sample ballots are posted 46 days before Election Day.
Related Article: Find organizations that help with rent and utility assistance, shelters, and housing placements.
Overcoming common barriers
Transportation
Ohio voters with transportation barriers can take advantage of free and discounted rides.
- Metro will provide fare-free rides across all services on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, for Ohio’s primary election.
- Help from local nonprofits: Voters can schedule a free ride to the polls with Rideshare2Vote Aware.
Time off work
According to Ohio Law, no employer or their supervisor is allowed to fire or threaten to fire someone for taking a reasonable amount of time off to vote on Election Day. They also cannot force anyone to go with them to a polling place, stop them from working as an election official, or use threats, pressure, or harm to make them vote a certain way—or to keep them from voting at all.
Accessibility
Accessibility provisions and preparing for uncertain circumstances help ensure secure, accurate, and accessible elections for all voters.
- Curbside Voting: You can vote curbside, if you are a voter with a disability and you are physically unable to enter your early voting location or polling location. If early voting, arrangements must be made to vote curbside at the early voting location prior to arrival. If voting on election day, you may send another person into the polling location to inform poll workers of your desire to vote curbside.
- Signature Options: Voters unable to sign for themselves can make an “x” or another legal mark and have a witness write his or her name beneath the signature line.
- Confined Voters: If you are a voter with a disability or you are confined to your home, a nursing home, jail, or workhouse and cannot vote at your polling location on Election Day or in person at your county board of election office due to personal illness, physical disability, infirmity, or confinement you may vote by an absentee ballot.
How do I…
Find the correct polling place
Your polling place is where you vote in local, state, and federal elections. Find your polling place by checking your voter registration. The site of your polling place may change from one election to the next, so check with your state’s election office before Election Day.
Request an Absentee Ballot in Ohio
Option 1: Print your request and mail it to your county board of elections.
Option 2: Have an application mailed to you by your board of elections.
Know what the identification requirements are
There are several types of valid photo identification:
- Ohio driver’s license
- State of Ohio ID card
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
- A US passport
- A US passport card
- US military ID card
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
All photo IDs must have the following:
- An expiration date that has not passed
- A photograph of the voter
- The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or the Poll Book
Voters who do not have photo identification when voting can still vote by casting a provisional ballot.
Voter Protection & Help
If you encounter problems or intimidation at the polls, call immediately.
- If you need immediate assistance with an elections-related inquiry, please call the Ohio Secretary of State at 877-767-6446
- Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer.
Related Article: MetroNow! aims to bring on-demand transportation to underserved neighborhoods
Ohio voters can actively shape our community’s future by understanding key dates and events, including primaries, local elections, and other essential voting opportunities. Use this Ohio voting guide to make your voice count in the upcoming elections.
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Voting Guide provided by © [Lamar Carter] /Adobe Stock
