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Are you a student in Ohio? Make your voice heard by voting the upcoming Presidential and state primary on March 19. Your vote matters and can make a difference in your community and country.
Ohio’s primary ballot, in addition to presidential candidates, Your vote can help shape your future representatives in the United States Congress, the Ohio Legislature, the Ohio Supreme Court, and many more local offices!
Choosing to vote in primaries can give newcomers to politics a chance to compete for office during a general election. Moreover, voting in primaries makes it more likely that a candidate whose values you align with will end up on the ballot of a general election. Finally, voting in every election holds our elected officials accountable to the public. Showing up asks our elected officials to continue to earn our support with relevant, responsive, and updated legislative and policy decisions.
Voter Registration Deadline: 30 days before Election Day
More information regarding important dates and deadlines for upcoming elections is available at: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/current-voting-schedule/.
2025 Election Information
Primary and Special Election: May 6, 2025
Special Election: August 5, 2025
General Election: November 4, 2025
More election information at:
www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters
Online voter registration available at:
Mail-in voter registration form available at:
https://www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/elections/forms/vr_form_04-2015.pdf
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family’s home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
Ohio’s voter registration form asks for your Ohio driver’s license or ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it.
By Mail ID Requirement: The mail-in ballot request application asks for your Ohio driver’s license or state ID card number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Voters may provide a copy of a different valid photo ID including a state ID card, military ID card, US passport, or Ohio National Guard ID. Please visit this webpage for additional information.
In-person ID Requirement: Voters who vote in person during the early voting period or on Election Day must provide an unexpired photo ID. The accepted forms of photo ID are:
Make a plan. Track your absentee ballot, check your voter registration ststus, look up your voting site and hours at:
By Mail: Registered voters have the right to vote by mail without an excuse. Instructions for applying for a mail ballot and a PDF application form are available at: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/how-to-request-your-absentee-ballot/
Voters with disabilities may receive their ballots through the state’s remote ballot marking system. More information is available at: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/11-g/.
Early In-Person: Registered voters have the right to vote early in person without an excuse. Early in-person voting begins the day after the close of voter registration and ends on the Sunday before Election Day.
Check with your local board of elections for dates, hours, and locations, or at: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/toolkit/early-voting/.
Election Day: Voting sites will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, then you have a right to cast your vote.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Federal Financial Aid?
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Status as a Dependent on my Parents’ Taxes?
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Does Registering to Vote impact my Tuition Status?
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in Ohio affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a full-time student in Ohio, you may be required to obtain an Ohio driver’s license and update your car’s registration, regardless of whether you register to vote there. For more information, contact the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Ohio legal professional.
Last updated March 2025
2023 letter expressing concern over the implementation of HB 458 to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. We urge that his office takes lawful measures to reduce confusion during the early voting period prior to the law taking effect.
