Important dates, resources for Ohio voters ahead of Election Day

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - Ohioans will head to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on reproductive rights, recreational marijuana legalization and a number of local issues.

Find a full listing of remaining early voting hours, important deadlines and election resources below.

Issue 1 will ask voters statewide whether reproductive rights should be enshrined into the state’s constitution.

If passed, the proposal would give everyone “the right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion,” according to the ballot language. It would grant legal protection to any person or entity helping a person getting reproductive treatment. Ohio is the only state with abortion rights on the ballot this fall.

Issue 2 will ask voters whether recreational marijuana should be legalized for adults 21 and over. If passed, Ohioans would be allowed to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis. They’d also be allowed to grow it at home.

The state would impose a 10% tax on marijuana purchases that would cover administrative costs, addiction treatment programs, municipalities with dispensaries and social equity and jobs programs.

Ohioans will also vote on local candidates and issues, like mayoral races, city council races, school boards, school levies and more.

There are new voter identification requirements in place this year and some forms of ID voters have used in the past may no longer be accepted, like utility bills or social security cards. Learn more about what is and is not accepted, as well as where to get a free ID, at the link here.

13 Action News will livestream Election Night coverage beginning when polls close at 7:30 p.m. Find updated election results for races we’ve covering at the link here.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023, and polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Here are several important deadlines voters should know ahead of Election Day, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office:

• Voter Registration Deadline: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023
• Early voting begins: Wednesday, Oct. 11. You can cast a ballot at your county BOE office. The hours change week to week:
  • October 23-27: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • October 30: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
  • October 31: 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
  • November 1-3: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
  • November 4: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • November 5: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
  • The last day for early voting is Sunday, November 5. There are no early voting hours on Monday, November 6.
• Deadline to request absentee ballot: Request must be received by Tuesday, Oct. 31.
  • Request an absentee ballot with the U.S. Vote Foundation at the link here.
  • Overseas absentee ballots and military absentee ballots can be requested also.
• Absentee ballot return deadline: Postmarked by November 6.
  • More information on absentee voting can be found on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.

RESOURCES

• You can register to vote at the link here.
• You can look up your voter registration at the link here.
• View your sample ballot at the link here.
• Find your Election Day polling location here.
• You can track your absentee ballot at the link here.
• Sign up to be a poll worker at the link here.
• Other resources for Ohio voters can be found at the link here.
• Michigan voters can find election resources at the link here.

Find the link to your county Board of Elections office below

• Defiance County
• Fulton County
• Hancock County
• Henry County
• Lucas County
• Ottawa County
• Sandusky County
• Seneca County
• Williams County
• Wood County
• Wyandot County

13 Action News Election Coverage

• Toledo organization offers free rides to the polls, voter information services
• AP Election Brief | What to expect when Ohio votes on abortion and marijuana
• An Ohio amendment serves as a testing ground for statewide abortion fights expected in 2024
• BVM, Ohio Unity Coalition to visit Toledo to mobilize Black voters, advocate for reproductive freedom
• How to see if your voter registration was removed
• County prosecutors voice opposition to proposed legal marijuana law in Ohio
• Ohio extends early voting hours this week
• TARTA offering fare-free rides to the polls on Election Day
• Will results of Issues 1 & 2 show disconnect between Ohio voters and state lawmakers?
• Abortion rights supporters far outraise opponents and rake in out-of-state money in Ohio election
• Misinformation is flowing ahead of Ohio abortion vote. Some is coming from a legislative website.
• This procedure is banned in the US. Why is it a hot topic in fight over Ohio’s abortion amendment?
• The nationwide implications of Ohio’s abortion vote
• Whitehouse voters to receive two separate ballots due to late primary date
• Maumee, Lake Township fire departments discuss levies on November ballot
• What to expect for school levies on November ballot
• Waterville Chamber of Commerce to host City Council and Mayoral Candidates Night
• Maumee Fire Division pushes for 5.6 mill levy
• Lake Township officials asking residents to approve a 4.2 mill levy
• EMBCC to hold Oregon City Council Candidate Forum
• Absentee mail-in and early in-person voting begins for 2023 Ohio general election
• Whitehouse mayoral race narrowed down to two candidates
• Amendment aimed at reforming Ohio’s troubled political mapmaking system edges toward 2024 ballot
• JR Majewski enters primary for OH-09 congressional seat
• Ahead of Ohio abortion vote, a court says some ballot language is misleading, must be rewritten
• Ohio Supreme Court rejects OHLS request to put levy on ballot
• Why it Matters: Redistricting fight returns to Ohio
• Ohio will keep GOP-drawn congressional maps in 2024 elections, ending court challenge
• Ohio votes on abortion rights this fall. Misinformation about the proposal is already spreading

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