Stay informed about key dates, polling locations, sample ballots, and more for the 2025 General Election with the following voting guide.
Election day for the 2025 general election is November 4, 2025.
Voting in the 2025 General 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
- What is being voted on
- 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 2025 General Election.
Important dates for the Ohio General Election
Verified as of October 17 with the Ohio Secretary of State and Hamilton County.
Early in Person Voting Hours:
October 29–31: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
November 1: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
November 2: 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
November 3: Absentee Ballot Return Deadline postmarked on or before November 3.
November 4: 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
November 8: Last day for boards of elections to receive non-UOCAVA absentee ballots (returned by U.S. mail) that have been postmarked on or before November 3.
Related Article: How Do I Get a Real ID? Required Documents, FAQs, & More
What is being voted on in this election?
In 2025, Hamilton County voters will decide leaders who shape local schools, housing, policing, and the neighborhood services you use every day. Local elections may not make national headlines, but they directly impact your quality of life.
Cincinnati City Council
27 candidates are running in the general election for Cincinnati City Council.
Anna Albi
Party Endorsement: Democratic
Anna believes in investing in minority and women-owned businesses by providing access to capital through successful public-private partnerships and the Cincinnati Development Fund
Audricia Brooks
Party Endorsement: None
Audricia is committed to encouraging underrepresented groups – including women, minorities, and marginalized communities – to actively participate in politics and have a strong voice in shaping the city’s future.
Laketa Cole
Party Endorsement: Charter Committee
A former City Council member, Laketa made history as the first African American woman ever appointed to council.
Jerry Corbett
Party Endorsement: None
Jeff Cramerding
Party Endorsement: Democratic
Don Driehaus
Party Endorsement: Charter Committee
Brian Ennix (certified write-in candidate)
Party Endorsement: None
No campaign website
Kevin Farmer
Party Endorsement: None
Gary Favors
Party Endorsement: Republican
Steven P. Goodin
Party Endorsement: Charter Committee
Ryan James
Party Endorsement: Democratic
Ryan led the launch of a DEI commitment tracking startup.
Mark Jeffreys
Party Endorsement: Democratic
Dawn Johnson
Party Endorsement: Charter Committee
Dawn believes in expanding mental health care access for Black men and working fathers, investing in BIPOC developers, and advocating for youth safety, gun reform, and trauma-informed education especially for Black and working-class families.
Scotty Johnson
Party Endorsement: Democratic
Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney
Party Endorsement: Democratic
Jan-Michele is one of the founders of the Greater Cincinnati Association of Black Journalists.
Liz Keating
Party Endorsement: Republican
Dale Mallory
Party Endorsement: None
Linda Matthews
Party Endorsement: Republican
Linda believes in expanding the Innovation District to support minority-owned businesses.
Brandon Nixon
Party Endorsement: None
No campaign website
Evan Nolan
Party Endorsement: Democratic
Meeka D. Owens
Party Endorsement: Democratic
Meeka believes we need to engage in communities more authentically, particularly Black and Brown communities. She also believes we need to improve Black and Brown businesses.
Raffel Prophett
Party Endorsement: None
Stephan Pryor
Party Endorsement: None
No campaign website
Christopher E.C. Smitherman
Party Endorsement: None
No campaign website
Seth Walsh
Party Endorsement: Democratic
Donald Washington
Party Endorsement: None
Aaron Weiner
Party Endorsement: Charter Committee
Mayor
The race for Cincinnati mayor features Democratic incumbent Aftab Pureval facing off against Republican challenger Cory Bowman.
Cincinnati Charter Amendments
In addition to the races for mayor and city council, Cincinnati voters will also decide on two amendments to the city charter.
One of the amendments addresses incentives for individuals to intern with the Cincinnati police and fire departments, aiming to attract more talent. Another would amend the city’s campaign finance reporting periods to make it less confusing for candidates and the public.
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.
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 to the polls from Metro, local nonprofits, and national rideshare companies. 2025 Transportation information will be available closer to the election.
- Metro is fare-free for the General Election: All Metro fixed-route, Access paratransit, and MetroNow! trips will be free to ride. Take advantage of the fare-free ride and vote!
- Help from local nonprofits: Voters can schedule a free ride to the polls with Rideshare2Vote Aware.
- Rideshare discounts: The Lyft Up Voting Access Program will help ensure voter access by sharing critical voting access information and providing free and discounted rides to the polls.
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.
The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize, and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job postings, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-966-3328.
Voting Guide provided by © [Lamar Carter] /Adobe Stock
