UA All In portal - If you want to register to vote anywhere in the US, including Ohio, use this link to access your state’s registration information and deadlines, especially for absentee ballot information.

UA All IN PORTAL >>

Voteohio.gov - If interested in Ohio elections, you can access the Ohio Secretary of State’s website for all your registration and Election Day needs.

• You will receive a voter confirmation card sent to the mailing address you listed on your registration form.  If you do not receive a card, you can check your registration status at the All In portal above.
• Same states offer same day voter registration, but many do not, including Ohio.  Refer to your Secretary of State’s registration deadlines for more information or contact zipsvote@uakron.edu for assistance.
• Interested in registering with your campus address?  Refer to that section below.

Voting options:

Early Mail In: Early mail in is a good option for folks who live far away from where they are registered and can’t make it home on Election Day, or for people who like to take their time voting.  However, it does require a few unique steps. 

For the State of Ohio, you can download and print your absentee ballot request form here.  You will fill this out with your registration address and your mailing address and mail it to your county Board of Elections office for processing. 

Once your application is processed, you will be sent an absentee ballot with very specific envelopes your ballot must be returned in.  You must provide your own stamp, but if you are able, you can return your absentee ballot in the provided envelope to the drop box at your Board of Elections office. 

With your ballot, you’ll also receive tracking information to know when your ballot has arrived at its location. 

Your completed absentee ballot is due by Election Day.  You do not need to have a photo ID handy, but you do need to make sure you are voting where you are registered.

Early In Person: Voting early in person is a great way to beat the crowds and vote on your schedule, however it usually requires a bit of planning.  Early voting period usually begins the day after the voter registration deadline and hours expand as Election Day gets closer and includes weekends.  In Ohio, there is no early voting the day before Election Day.  All early voting happens at your county’s Board of Elections.  You will need to bring your photo ID.

Election Day In Person: A lot of people vote on Election Day because they feel more connected to the process.  However, lines can be long, and it can be intimidating if you’re unsure of what you’re doing.  General Election Day is always the first Tuesday in November.  Polls in Ohio are open from 6:30 am-7:30 pm.  You must bring your photo ID, but you will go to your address's polling location.

At any point you have any questions about voting, you can contact zipsvote@uakron.edu, ask an Election Day volunteer, or call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-687-8683.

Registering with your campus address is an option if you want to make Akron and Summit County your registration location.  Every building has it’s own street address and zip codes vary. 

When you’re registering, you should put your physical residence hall address on the line labeled “House Number and Street.”  You should put your room number in the line labeled “Apt. Or Lot #”.  You will need to put the E. Mill Street address in the line labeled “Additional Mailing Address (if necessary)”.

Photo ID laws - If you are registered to vote in Ohio or interested in registering to vote in Ohio, you’ll need to know what ID to have when voting in person.  Use this link to find a comprehensive list of acceptable photo IDs to vote in the State of Ohio.*

*Note: You cannot be registered to vote in two states at once, therefore if you are from another state, and get an Ohio photo ID to register to vote in Ohio you give up your identification from your home state.  Please contact zipsvote@uakron.edu with more questions about voter ID laws and options.

Should I bother voting?  Does my vote even matter?

Yes!  Your vote is your voice in a wide variety of issues and candidates that affect your life and the lives of every community around the country.  It’s a vital aspect to a functioning democracy to vote, even if your choice doesn’t win.  Outcomes tell a lot about the concerns of constituents regardless of who/what wins.  Simply put: Decisions are made by those who show up

What if I don’t “do” politics?

Neither do we!  You can participate in your community through voting without being a political wonk or an expert on policy.  It’s important to know where to get good, easy to understand information to help you understand and know what choice you want to make.  We recommend accessing the Media Bias Chart to figure out which news outlets, newspapers, websites, and podcasts are unbiased and reliable.  Ballotpedia is also a great resource to help you know what’s on your ballot before you go to the polls.

If I’m already registered to vote, do I have to register again?

Only if your name and/or address changed.  But you should always double check through the UA All In to Vote portal.

Do I have to declare a party when I register to vote?

In the State of Ohio, you do not have to declare a party affiliation when you register to vote.  However, if you want to vote in a specific party’s primary election, you will need to declare a party to receive that ballot.

Definitions:

Democracy- a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.

Ballot- a process of voting in writing

Primary Election - voting process where members of a party can indicate their preference for their party’s candidate.

Poll - the process of holding an election (noun); record the opinion or vote (verb).

Poll Worker/Election Official/Election Officer- volunteer responsible for the proper and orderly voting at polling stations 
Precinct- a subdivision of a city, outlined for government purposes.

Roll/register - the list of people who are able to vote in elections.