Ohio
1 Check ID Rules
Voter ID in Ohio
Ohio has different rules for:
🗳️ Voting in Person
✉️ Voting by Mail
IDs for Voting in Person
Ohio requires a photo ID to vote in person.
Option 1: Show an accepted photo ID
You can show (must be unexpired):
- Ohio driver’s license
- Ohio state ID card
- US passport or passport card
- Military identification issued by the Ohio National Guard or US government
- US Veterans Affairs ID card
- Interim identification form issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
Option 2: Vote a provisional ballot
If you can’t present an accepted photo ID, you have to cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots make sure eligible voters are not rejected at the polls — but you must take extra steps for your vote to count.
To make your provisional ballot count:
- Appear in person at your county’s Board of Elections and present an accepted photo ID within 4 calendar days after Election Day.
- Find your local office.
Religious objection:
If you don’t have an accepted photo ID because of a religious objection to being photographed, your ballot will count if you complete an affidavit of religious objection and include the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. You can complete the affidavit when you cast your provisional ballot, or at your county’s Board of Elections within 4 days after Election Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get a free ID in Ohio?
Free IDs are available for Ohio voters!
The BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) issues state ID cards for free to residents aged 17 or over who don’t have a driver’s license.
Request your free state ID at any Ohio BMV license agency location.
You will be required to provide proof of:
- Legal name (including documentation of any changes)
- Date of birth
- US citizenship (for example, a birth certificate, US passport, or immigration paperwork)
- Social Security number (if you have one)
- Ohio address
What if I don’t have the right ID to vote in Ohio?
You can still vote a provisional ballot.
Registered Ohio voters who can’t present an accepted photo ID at the polls have to cast a provisional ballot, and must take extra steps for it to count. Appear in person at your county’s Board of Elections with an accepted photo ID within 4 calendar days after Election Day.
Can I use a digital or mobile ID to vote in Ohio?
You must show a physical ID at the polls.
You cannot use an image, copy, or digital ID when voting in person.
Do I need a “REAL ID” to vote in Ohio?
You do not need a “REAL ID” to vote in Ohio.
“REAL ID” is a set of national security standards for states to follow when they issue driver’s licenses and state ID cards. Your ID will show a star if it meets REAL ID standards.
Applying for a REAL ID requires you to appear in person with a variety of documents to prove your identity. Visit the Ohio BMV website to find out exactly what is required to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID card (called a Compliant DL-ID in Ohio).
IDs for Voting by Mail
Any registered Ohio voter can request an absentee ballot. You don’t have to give a reason why you can’t vote in person. Request your absentee ballot by sending a completed application form to your county board of elections.
You must include ID information or a copy of an accepted ID with BOTH your application and your completed ballot.
Use one of the following:
- Number from an unexpired Ohio driver’s license
- Number from an unexpired Ohio state ID card
- Last 4 digits of your Social Security number
- Copy of an accepted photo ID
A copy of your ID means images of both the front and back. A copy of a passport book means an image of the data page showing your name, photo, identifying information, and expiration date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I track my Ohio mail ballot?
Can I fix my Ohio mail ballot if it is rejected?
You are allowed to “cure” (fix) your absentee ballot within 4 days of the election. Election officials will send you a notice (Form 11-S) to let you know if there is a problem with your ballot, including missing or inconsistent proof of ID, signature, or printed name.
What to do:
- Complete the Form 11-S and return it to your county board of elections, in person or by mail.
- If you do not complete and return the Form 11-S, your ballot will not count.
