Voting Rights Center

You must present a valid ID in order to vote in-person. In early 2023, Ohio changed the types of valid ID to vote in-person. The updated list now includes the following: an Ohio ID, a US passport, a military ID, and more. For a list of the types of ID that you can use to vote in-person in Ohio, click here.

Voters without a valid Ohio ID can vote by mail with the last four digits of their Social Security Number as identification. To learn more about voting by mail and to request your absentee ballot, click here.

That doesn’t matter! The name and address on your ID are the only things that must match the information on the voter roll. You are still allowed to vote.

• Your gender expression and/or legal sex does not need to match what is on your ID.
• You may not be denied the right to vote for any differences between your gender expression (including hairstyle, make-up, clothing, etc.) and/or the legal sex listed on your ID.
• If a poll worker tells you that you cannot vote because of this, provide them with this info sheet from the National Center for Transgender Equality’s Voting While Trans Guide (available in English and en Español).

Don’t leave!

• Ask the poll worker to double check the spelling of your name. If your name is still not on the list of registered voters, ask if there’s a supplemental list of voters. If there is, ask them to check that roll.
• If the poll worker still cannot find your name on the list, ask if they can help you confirm whether or not you’re at the correct polling place.
• If you still cannot cast a regular ballot, ask for a provisional ballot. Be sure to get any follow-up instructions for making sure that your provisional ballot is counted.
• Many polling locations also have volunteer lawyers who can help. Ask a poll worker if a volunteer lawyer is present, so they can provide you with resources.
• Call the National Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español) to let them know what happened.

As mentioned above, you cannot be denied the right to vote because an ID does not match your appearance. Resources are available from the National Center for Transgender Equality’s Voting While Trans Guide and from the ACLU of Ohio.

• You cannot be turned away simply because you identify as transgender, non-binary, and/or gender expansive.

Out-of-state college students, who meet Ohio’s residency requirements, are still allowed to register to vote in Ohio. More information on college students’ voting rights is available from Rock The Vote.

• To do so, you must fill out a new voter registration form by the voter registration deadline. You should use your on-campus (i.e. dormitory, apartment, etc.) address when doing so.
• Ohio recently changed the types of ID that are needed to vote in-person in Ohio. As noted by the ACLU of Ohio, voters without a valid Ohio ID – including out-of-state college students – can vote by mail with the last four digits of their Social Security Number as identification.
• If you’re an out-of-state college student in Ohio and you want to vote in your home state’s election, don’t forget to request an absentee ballot from your home state’s Board of Elections.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all polling places for federal elections to be fully accessible to voters with disabilities. More information on the rights of voters with disabilities is available from the ACLU. Additional resources related to accessibility are available from the Secretary of State’s office.

• Each polling location must also provide voters with disabilities the option to privately and independently cast their ballot.
• Reasonable accommodations under the ADA must be provided to voters with disabilities.
• You cannot be turned away simply because you have a disability.
• Every Election Day, Disability Rights Ohio operates a voter protection hotline. If you have a disability and encounter an issue on Election Day, call 800-282-9181.

Many people who are justice involved can vote in Ohio elections, and as noted by the ALCU of Ohio, only people who are incarcerated for a felony conviction are unable to vote. If you are incarcerated and awaiting trial, serving probation or parole, convicted of a misdemeanor offense, etc., you still have the right to vote. Additional eligibility information is available from the Secretary of State’s office.

• Voters who have been convicted of a crime in Ohio can access additional voting rights information from the Dept. of Health and Human Services of Cuyahoga County.

• Additional information about restoring your voting rights after being justice involved is available from Restore Your Vote of the Campaign Legal Center.

If you are unhoused, you still have the right to vote. Additional information about registration and voting while unhoused is available below. Additionally, downloadable resources are available from the League of Women Voters of Ohio and Nonprofit Vote .

Important Information: As noted by the Office of the Ohio Public Defender (OPD) , unhoused people can register to vote with a shelter address or other location information.

• Common shelter addresses in Athens County include: 1) Good Works/Timothy House at 91 Central Ave, Athens, OH 45701.
• Common shelter addresses in Franklin County include: 1) Open Shelter at 1037 Parsons Ave, Columbus, OH 43026; 2) YMCA at 1640 Sandalwood Pl, Columbus, OH 43229; and 3) YWCA at 65 4th St, Columbus, OH 43215.
• Common shelter addresses in Hamilton County include: 1) Shelterhouse at 411 Gest St, Cincinnati, OH 45203 and 2) YWCA at 898 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
• Common shelter addresses in Licking County include: 1) Salvation Army at 250 E Main St, Newark, OH 43055 and 2) St. Vincent Haven at 115 Wilson St, Newark, OH 43055.
• Common shelter addresses in Lucas County include: 1) St. Paul’s Community Center at 230 13th St, Toledo, OH 43604 and 2) YWCA at 1018 Jefferson Ave, Toledo, OH 43604.
• Common shelter addresses in Montgomery and Greene Counties include: 1) Gettysburg Gateway for Men at 1921 Gettysburg Ave, Dayton, OH 45417; 2) St. Vincent de Paul Gateway for Women and Families at 120 W Apple St, Dayton, OH 45402; and 3) YWCA at 141 W 3rd St, Dayton, OH 45402.
• Common shelter addresses in Summit County include: 1) Haven of Rest at 175 E Market St, Akron, OH 44308 and 2) ACCESS at 230 W Market St, Akron, OH 44303.
• Alternatively, people can legally use a park bench as an address; however, this may require people to vote with a  provisional ballot  at the  precinct closest to your location .