13.3 Administering Elections in Ohio

Ohio runs elections through a partnership between state and local officials. Voters can cast a ballot on Election Day, take part in early in-person voting, or use absentee voting. 

Early in-person voting is a method of voting that allows registered voters to cast their ballots at designated locations before election day. In Ohio, early in-person voting typically begins several weeks prior to the election and includes evening and weekend hours. This gives voters added flexibility and convenience. 

Absentee voting allows a voter to request a ballot ahead of time, fill it out at home, and return it by mail or drop-off.

The Ohio Secretary of State is the state’s chief elections officer. This office makes sure elections follow state and federal laws, provides guidance to local officials, keeps the statewide voter registration system, certifies results, and oversees campaign finance reporting.

At the local level, each of Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections—bipartisan offices made up of appointed members and professional staff—manage elections in their communities. A board of elections is responsible for registering voters, hiring and training poll workers, setting up polling places, and counting ballots. Poll workers are temporary staff, often community volunteers, who run polling places on Election Day. They check in voters, issue ballots, answer questions, and help keep the process organized and secure. Boards also run early voting centers and handle absentee ballots.

State and county officials work together to keep elections secure, from maintaining accurate databases to using cybersecurity tools that protect election systems. Election observers, appointed by political parties or independent groups, may also be present to monitor voting and add transparency.

Elections in Ohio depend on this shared system of responsibilities. Understanding how it works helps voters see the effort involved in making sure ballots are cast and counted fairly.