Ready for Election 2020? Register to vote by October 5
2020 GENERAL ELECTION EARLY VOTING & ABSENTEE BALLOT SCHEDULE
OCTOBER
October 5: Deadline to Register to Vote (BOEs open until 9:00 p.m.)
October 6-9: Early Vote 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (February 19 – Absentee Voting by Mail & Early In-Person Voting begins)
October 12-17: Early Vote 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
October 20-24: Early Vote 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
October 25: Early Vote 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
October 26-30: Early Vote 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
October 31: Early Vote 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (12:00 p.m. Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot)
NOVEMBER
November 1: Early Vote 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
November 2: Early Vote 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by this date)
November 3: General Election Day – Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Voters are able to drop off absentee ballot at their county board of elections office until 7:30 p.m.)*
Sign Up for Election Protection 2020
Ohio Vote is part of the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, a network of nonpartisan voter advocates including ACLU of Ohio, All Voting is Local, Common Cause Ohio, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law, League of Women Voters of Ohio, and more.
We worked with nonprofits and volunteers all over the state to register and mobilize thousands of Ohio voters. Now, our main priority through Election Day is election protection. The goal of our non-partisan election protection program is to ensure Ohio voters have the information they need in order to cast their ballot this November. We work to minimize barriers to the ballot box, particularly for under-represented communities. By creating a simple and satisfying voting experience, we can empower voters and create a more representative democracy.
We understand that it’s an unusual year and you may be concerned about volunteering because of COVID-19. Fortunately, there are a handful of volunteer opportunities that you can do remotely. If you are interested in being involved in election protection opportunities, you can find more information by clicking the “Join Election Protection 2020” button below.
Ohio Votes Ride to Polls Programs 2020 – COVID19 Update
Unfortunately, Ohio Votes is unable to provide rides this year due to COVID19 safety concerns. However, many community groups have stepped up to fill the gap, and we are doing our best to consolidate a list of available resources. Contact your regional liaison about ride resources available in your area.
Ohio Votes Regional Liaisons
Upcoming Voting Events and Registration Opportunities
Central Ohio
Northeast Ohio
Northwest Ohio
Southwest Ohio
Southeast Ohio
Year-round Nonpartisan Voting Programming & Assistance
“Every Vote Matters” Voter Engagement Campaign – UU Justice Ohio will be leading a statewide voter engagement campaign with events throughout the year. Contact JOAN VANBECELAERE at JoanVanB@aol.com with questions or concerns.
Engaging Food Banks – We will continue to engage with food banks and other direct service organizations. If you are looking to engage with food banks directly, reach out to NICK BATES, HUNGER NETWORK IN OHIO at Nick@OHVoice.org with questions or concerns.
Voting in Jails – We’re in need of volunteers to both join existing jail voting programs and also help start new ones. IFEOLU CLAYTOR, ALL VOTING IS LOCAL – Contact him at ifeolu@allvotingislocal.org with questions or concerns
Voting is Social Work – Are you or someone at your organization a social worker? Learn how voting can be incorporated into your practice or outreach efforts. Contact STEPHEN DAVID, OSU COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK – david.54@osu.edu with questions or concerns
Engaging Affordable Housing Developments – We continue to connect with housing providers to connect residents with resources and opportunities to register to vote. If you are interested in starting or continuing your program, please reach out to MARIA BRUNO, COHHIO (OHIO VOTES) at OhioVotes@cohhio.org with questions or concerns
Ready to organize and advocate? Join NOVOC 2020
The 2020 Nonpartisan Ohio Voter Outreach Committee (NOVOC) is led by the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, a coalition of nonpartisan statewide organizations which advocates for voting rights, ballot access, and general voter empowerment. Participants in the Outreach Committee include faith communities, regional and statewide advocacy groups, the League of Women Voters, Ohio Votes, Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio, Poor People’s Campaign, All Voting is Local and more. Our goal is to work together to be greater than the sum of our parts and minimize duplicative outreach efforts.
More information about the Ohio Votes initiative
Ohio VOTES is COHHIO’s year-round, statewide, nonpartisan initiative to build civic engagement in Ohio’s low-income communities. Ohio VOTES works with housing providers, health centers, community centers, food pantries, homeless programs, and other nonprofits to help the people they serve exercise their right to vote and stay engaged in the civic debate.
Through voter education, leadership training, empowerment programming, coalition building, and providing voting resources including rides to the polls, Ohio VOTES activates Ohio voters who often go ignored by traditional political campaigning. By engaging them on issues that matter most to their own community and providing tools and resources, Ohio VOTES empowers residents and low-income communities to be their own advocates.
Contact OhioVotes@COHHIO.org for more information.
