13.3 Administering Elections in Ohio

In Ohio, the administration of elections involves a collaborative effort between multiple entities, each with specific roles to ensure smooth and fair electoral processes. The Ohio Secretary of State serves as the chief elections officer, overseeing the administration of elections and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws. This office provides guidance and support to county boards of elections, maintains the statewide voter registration database, and certifies election results. Additionally, the Secretary of State’s office handles campaign finance reporting and ensures adherence to election laws.   

Each of Ohio’s 88 counties has a board of elections responsible for administering local elections within their jurisdiction. These county boards manage the day-to-day operations of elections, including voter registration, recruiting and training poll workers, setting up and managing polling locations, and counting votes. They also oversee early voting and absentee ballots. On Election Day, poll workers play a crucial role in managing polling places, assisting voters, ensuring the security of the voting process, and handling any issues that arise. Local election officials supervise poll workers and ensure that all procedures are correctly followed.

Additional support for elections comes from election observers deployed by political parties and independent organizations to monitor the process and ensure transparency and fairness. The Secretary of State’s office, in collaboration with county boards, employs various technologies to enhance security and efficiency in the electoral process, including maintaining secure databases and implementing cybersecurity measures to protect election integrity.

Understanding the roles and responsibilities of these various entities helps Ohioans appreciate the collaborative effort required to conduct elections and ensure that every vote counts.