2026 General Election: Important Dates and Voter Resources

2026 General Election: Important Dates and Voter Resources

The deadline to register to vote in Ohio's 2026 General Election is October 5, 2026. Early in-person voting and absentee voting by mail begin the following day, Tuesday, October 6, ahead of the General Election on November 3, 2026.

Governmental Policy Group, Inc. and RH Resources have provided their 2026 General Election Guide, which includes a list of candidates appearing on the ballot this November. Ohio voters will elect statewide executive officers, one U.S. senator, members of Congress, two Ohio Supreme Court justices, all 99 members of the Ohio House of Representatives, and state senators in Ohio's 17 odd-numbered Senate districts. State Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment, will also appear on the statewide ballot.

Below are resources related to Issue 3, certified by the Ohio Ballot Board and the Secretary of State, including the certified ballot language, explanation, and arguments both for and against the proposed constitutional amendment. These can also be found on page 13 of the 2026 General Election Guide.

• Certified Ballot Language and Certified Explanation
• Certified Argument FOR
• Certified Argument AGAINST

Because of redistricting, a new U.S. Congressional map will be used for the 2026 election, and some voters' congressional district numbers may have changed. Current congressional and state legislative district maps can be found here. Voters can also verify their district numbers by entering their address using the Secretary of State's Find My District tool.

Important election dates:

• October 5: Deadline to register to vote. Boards of elections are open until 9:00 p.m.
• October 6: Absentee voting by mail begins.
• October 6: Early in-person voting begins.
• October 27: Deadline to request an absentee ballot. Applications must be received by your county board of elections by 8:30 p.m.
• November 3: Election Day. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• November 3: Non-UOCAVA absentee ballots must be received by your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m.
• November 7: UOCAVA absentee ballots must be received by mail by boards of elections by this date to be counted.

Early in-person voting hours:

• October 6-9: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• October 12-16: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• October 19-23: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• October 24: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• October 26: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• October 27: 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• October 28-30: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• October 31: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• November 1: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Note: There is no early in-person voting on Monday, November 2, the day before Election Day.

For additional information about the election, voter registration, absentee voting, or voting in Ohio, visit the Ohio Secretary of State's elections website. Voters can also find sample ballots through their county board of elections. Some counties may not yet have sample ballots available, so voters are encouraged to check back as Election Day approaches.

Ohioans interested in helping administer the election can also learn more about becoming a poll worker.