The 2026 General Election will take place on Tuesday November 3, 2026.
Voters Guide
The 2026 Voters Guide has arrived! View the Guide here for nonpartisan election information.
Online Registration
Register/update registration at VoteOhio.gov by October 5, 2026.
You will need an Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card, DOB, address, last four digits of SSN. Signature on those IDs is used for voter match.
You can also print the registration form, fill it out and mail to the appropriate county board of elections. You may also find registration forms at the public library, BMV registrars, and numerous other designated agencies.
Montgomery County Board of Elections | 451 W. Third Street | Dayton, OH 45422
Greene County Board of Elections | 551 Ledbetter Road | Xenia, OH 45385-2600
Check your polling location at your County Board of Elections (BOE) website: Montgomery County, Greene County.
Registration and Precinct Location
Check your registration and precinct location at VoteOhio.gov: Check your registration to make sure it’s up to date and that you know your voting precinct. NOTE: If you did not vote in the last election, this should be your first step.
Immigrant Voters
If you are a naturalized citizen, you have the right to vote. Find out more in this Immigrant Voters Guide from USAHello, also available in العربية (Arabic) , 简体中文 (Chinese) and Español (Spanish).
Voting by Absentee Ballot
Once you have verified your registration, the Ohio League of Women Voters and other voting rights groups suggest you request an absentee ballot IMMEDIATELY. Print an absentee ballot request at VoteOhio.Gov.
Follow the directions on the ballot carefully.
- Remember to sign and date and mail it to your BOE
- Include a telephone number or email address in case there is a question about your application.
- You may monitor your request at VoteOhio.Gov by scrolling down to My Election and clicking on Track My Ballot. Double-click on your county and fill in your name.
Applications for absentee ballots must be received by BOE by 8:30 PM on October 27, 2026.
NEW GUIDELINE: Absentee ballots mailed domestically, returned in person or via a method other than US Postal Service, must be received by the BOE by close of polls on November 3, 2026 at 7:30 PM to be counted.
Your ballot should include an insert that tells how much postage is required to return.
NOTE: If you request an absentee ballot but then show up at the polls or the BoE to vote in person on election day, you will be required to file a provisional ballot.
Click below to view the video showing how to complete an absentee ballot.
VOTING IN PERSON: The following documents are acceptable forms of ID for voting:
- Photo ID for voting as long as the ID is not expired and includes the individual’s name and photograph;
- Ohio driver’s license, state ID card, or interim ID form issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (“BMV”).
- This includes a commercial driver’s license, motorcycle operator’s license, probationary or restricted license, or temporary instruction permit.
- An interim identification form is a BMV document issued to a person who has just applied for a driver’s license or state ID card, to use until the permanent card arrives in the mail;
Note that NEW CITIZENS should go to the BMV immediately after their naturalization ceremony to update their ID at NO COST.
- U.S. passport or passport card; or
- U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card (collectively referenced in this Directive as “military ID”).
Note: A suspended driver’s license that is not expired may still be used as photo identification for voting.
Voters without ID may still cast a provisional ballot when they appear in person to vote. Those voters will have four days after Election Day to appear at the board of elections office to show photo ID (except in the case of a religious objector). Confusing? Check out this handy guide to Voter ID information in plain language.
Important Dates
- September 18: Military and overseas absentee voting begins
- October 5: Deadline to register to vote in the 2026 Primary Election
- October 6: Absentee voting by mail, and early in-person voting begins
- October 27: Absentee ballot requests must be received by BoE by 8:30 PM
- November 3: General Election Day. Polls open from 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM.
Domestically mailed absentee ballots and hand-carried ballots must be received by the BoE by the close of polls on November 3. - November 7: BoE must receive non-UOCAVA (absentee ballots returned by US mail) and UOCAVA ballots, postmarked on or before Nov 3, in order to be counted. NOTE: This grace period applies ONLY to military and overseas ballots cast via absentee voting.
Early In-Person Voting Schedule
- October 6 to 9: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- October 12 to16: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- October 19 to 23: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- October 24: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- October 26: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
- October 27: 7:30 AM – 8:30 PM
- October 28 to 30: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
- October 31: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- November 1: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- November 3: GENERAL ELECTION DAY, polls open 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM Absentee ballots mailed domestically must be received by the BoE by close of polls to be counted
Resources
- VOTE 411: Information on candidates, ballot issues, and election procedures
- ACLU fact sheet: Voting with a criminal conviction
- Judicial Votes Count: Statewide resource on judicial elections.
- Election Protection website; also Voter Hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE
County Boards of Elections
Montgomery County Board of Elections:
451 W. 3rd St. , Dayton; (937) 225-5656
The Ballot Dropbox for Montgomery County Board of Elections is by the loading dock off Vista View, behind the Montgomery County building, between 2nd and 3rd Streets. See image to the right.
Greene County Board of Elections:
551 Ledbetter Rd., Xenia; (937) 562-6170
Also check out our main Voter Information page for more details on the voting process: registering, requesting an absentee ballot, changing your address, being prepared with accepted ID, etc.
