Voting 101: Questions about voting? We've got answers.
Photo by Chelsie Walter.
Election Day will be here in a few short weeks, and though it’s not a presidential election, this will be an important election for our community. On the local level, ballot issues include healthcare and mental health services, expanding senior citizen services, and changes to the bail system. At the state and federal level, Senate, U.S. House, State Supreme Court, and more seats are up for grabs in Ohio and Kentucky. And Ohioans will be tasked with electing their next Governor and Lt. Governor.
These elections have the power to change the political landscape across the country and affect voting rights, reproductive rights, and so much more. Make your voice heard and VOTE.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered.
Voter Resources
First, you must be registered to vote in order to vote in elections.
October 11 is the last day to register to vote in Ohio and Kentucky.
Not sure if you are registered to vote?
Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day.
However, there are numerous ways to get your vote in early.
Early in-person voting in Hamilton County starts October 12 and goes until November 7. You can vote at the Board of Elections Office.
If you reside in Hamilton County, you can vote by mail by submitting an application for a mail-in ballot.
In Kentucky, if you will be absent on Election Day, you can also vote by mail by applying for an absentee ballot here.
Early in-person voting in Kentucky begins November 3 through November 5. You can find out if you qualify for excused early in-person voting that starts October 26. You can find your polling place, early in-person voting, and absentee ballot drop-off locations here.
If you voted by mail-in ballot, here’s how to check the status of your ballot.
You can check the status of your ballot here for Ohio.
You can check the status of your ballot here for Kentucky.
If you are planning on voting in person, either through early voting or on Election Day, here are a few things you should know.
Know your polling location for Election Day.
Know when you can vote on Election Day.
On November 8 in Ohio, polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
On November 8 in Kentucky, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.
If you are in line at 6 p.m. in Kentucky or 7:30 p.m. in Ohio, stay in line, you will still be allowed to vote.
Know what ID you need to bring for in-person voting.
In Ohio, you will need proof of residence to vote. This could be an unexpired driver’s license, a paycheck, a utility bill or a bank statement with your name and current address – find the full list of IDs accepted here.
In Kentucky, you must have a photo ID to vote. This could be an unexpired driver’s license or passport, a college or university ID, or a government ID. If you need a photo ID, Kentucky will create a free government ID for you here.
Other resources you may need.
If you live in Ohio, you can learn about who’s on your ballot here.
You may be allowed time off of work on Election Day to vote. In Ohio, employees cannot be fired for taking a reasonable amount of time to vote. Salaried employees may be given paid time off to vote. In Kentucky, employers must allow employees up to four hours to vote during a regular shift, however, you must inform your employer of your absence at least one day before Election Day.
If you are a voter with a disability, find your voting rights here.
If you need multilingual or ESL voting resources, find your voting rights here.
If there is a problem at a polling location, such as a poll worker not being able to find your name, you can call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español).
Want to get involved? Here are a few ways.
Volunteer with the Cincinnati League of Women Voters. You can join committees that plan voting registration and education events in the community.
Become a poll worker. As a poll worker, you are responsible for arranging chairs and tables for voting, directing people to wait in lines, processing voters, and aiding voters when needed.
Poll worker sign-up in Hamilton County.
There are also opportunities for high school seniors to volunteer as well as company volunteering.
Poll worker sign-up in Kentucky.
Volunteer through Greater Cincinnati Voter Collaborative. This includes giving free rides to voters to and from the polls on Election Day if you have a car, or by becoming an ambassador to help register voters and encourage voting.
Volunteer with the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition. As an ambassador, you can help improve voter engagement; as a poll monitor, you can answer voter questions and spread voter education on Election Day; as a social media monitor, you can assist in finding and reporting misinformation about voting spreading on the internet.
Just remember that the most important thing you can do is vote in every election.