Everything a Cincinnati voter needs for the Tuesday, November 3, 2026 general election — who can vote, how to register, what ID to bring, early voting, voting by mail and where to get help. Cincinnati votes through the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
The dates that matter
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Mon, Oct 5 | Last day to register or update your address |
| Tue, Oct 6 | Early in-person voting opens; mail ballots start going out |
| Tue, Oct 27 | Your vote-by-mail application must reach the Board of Elections |
| Sun, Nov 1 | Last day of early voting (1–5 p.m.) — there is no early voting on Monday, Nov 2 |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Election Day, polls open 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Mail ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Last day to show ID for a provisional ballot or fix a mail-ballot envelope |
New for 2026: Ohio no longer counts mail ballots that arrive after Election Day. A postmark is not enough — your ballot has to be in the Board’s hands by 7:30 p.m. on Nov 3 (Senate Bill 293). Mail it early or drop it off.
1. Who can vote
- U.S. citizen, 18 or older by Nov 3, 2026, and an Ohio resident for at least 30 days before the election.
- Registered by Oct 5, 2026.
- Past felony conviction? You can vote. Ohio restores voting rights automatically when you are released, and people on probation or parole can vote. If you served time for a felony, you need to register again after release. People in jail for a misdemeanor or awaiting trial can also vote.
2. Register or check your registration
- Register or change your address online at the Ohio Secretary of State’s site, or on a paper form dropped at the Board of Elections.
- Check that you are registered — and see your ward, precinct and polling place — before you go.
Register onlineCheck my registration
3. Bring a photo ID
Ohio requires one unexpired photo ID to vote in person (early or on Election Day):
- Ohio driver’s license or Ohio state ID card (or the BMV interim ID form)
- U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. military ID, Ohio National Guard ID, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID
Phone or digital IDs (like Apple Wallet) are not accepted. No ID with you? You can still cast a provisional ballot — then bring your photo ID to the Board of Elections by Saturday, Nov 7 so it counts.
4. Vote early in person
Hamilton County has one early-voting site: the Board of Elections at 4700 Smith Road, Suite W, Norwood, OH 45212. (address pending — confirm with the Board)
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Weekdays, Oct 6 – Oct 23 | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, Oct 24 | 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Mon Oct 26, Wed Oct 28 – Fri Oct 30 | 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Oct 27 | 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, Oct 31 | 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Nov 1 (last day) | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Early-voting hours are set statewide by the Ohio Secretary of State. No early voting on Sunday, Oct 25 or Monday, Nov 2.
5. Vote by mail
- Anyone can vote by mail — no reason needed.
- Step 1 — apply. Use the application the state mailed to registered voters in September, print one from the Board’s site, or call the Board and ask for one. Include your Ohio driver’s license number, state ID number, last four digits of your Social Security number, or a copy of a photo ID. The Board must receive it by Tuesday, Oct 27.
- Step 2 — vote and return it. Mail it back in the return envelope the Board sends you, put it in the 24-hour drop box at the Board of Elections (4700 Smith Rd) — the county’s only drop box — or hand it in at the Board. It must arrive by 7:30 p.m. on Nov 3.
- Step 3 — track it. Check that your ballot was received, and fix any envelope problems by Saturday, Nov 7.
Get a mail ballot applicationTrack my ballot
6. Election Day — Tuesday, Nov 3
- Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you are in line at 7:30, stay in line — you can still vote.
- Vote at your assigned polling place. Look it up before you go — it shows your ward, precinct and sample ballot.
- Bring your photo ID (see step 3).
7. What’s on the ballot
Top of the ticket for Cincinnati voters on Nov 3, 2026 (nominees from the May 5 primary):
| Office | Republican | Democrat |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | Vivek Ramaswamy | Amy Acton |
| U.S. Senate (special election) | Jon Husted | Sherrod Brown |
| Attorney General | Keith Faber | John J. Kulewicz |
| Secretary of State | Robert Sprague | Allison Russo |
| Auditor of State | Frank LaRose | Annette Blackwell |
| Treasurer of State | Jay Edwards | Seth Walsh |
| Ohio Supreme Court (term begins Jan 1, 2027) | Daniel R. Hawkins | Marilyn Zayas |
| Ohio Supreme Court (term begins Jan 2, 2027) | Colleen O’Donnell | Jennifer Brunner |
- State Issue 3 — a constitutional amendment, placed on the ballot by the legislature, to require voters to show photo ID.
- Also on the ballot: the U.S. House seat for your district (Ohio adopted a new congressional map in October 2025, so check your district), Ohio House and Ohio Senate seats, Hamilton County offices, judges, and any local levies or issues.
- See your exact sample ballot with the “Where do I vote?” lookup above, and meet your current officials on Cincinnati Politics.
8. Get help
- Hamilton County Board of Elections — 4700 Smith Road, Suite W, Norwood, OH 45212 (address pending — confirm with the Board) · 513-632-7000 (phone pending) · votehamiltoncountyohio.gov
- Ohio Secretary of State voter hotline — 877-767-6446
- Accessibility: every polling place is accessible and has an accessible voting machine; curbside voting is available if you can’t go inside; you may bring a helper of your choice. Voters with a qualifying disability can request an accessible remote ballot-marking system for voting by mail.
Statewide dates, ID rules and early-voting hours verified September 2026 from Ohio election schedules. The Board of Elections street address and phone above are marked pending until confirmed. Rules can change — confirm with the Hamilton County Board of Elections before you vote.