AKRON, Ohio — It's election day!
As voters hit the polls across the state of Ohio for the May 2 special / primary election, we want to make sure you're prepared with everything you need to know before casting your ballot.
When are the polls open? What's on your ballot? What are the races that impact you? When do results come in? We answer all of the big questions in our Election Day guide, which you can explore below.
Happy voting!
WHEN IS ELECTION DAY?
Tuesday, May 2, 2022.
WHEN ARE THE POLLS OPEN?
Polls are open throughout Ohio from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Remember, you are still permitted to vote as long as you're in line before the polls close at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE IS MY POLLING PLACE?
You can find your polling location HERE.
WHAT RACES ARE ON MY BALLOT?
CLICK HERE to see a sample of your local ballot so you can study up before heading to the polls.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES & RACES?
A lot of attention will be on the Akron mayoral race as seven Democrats seek the role as Mayor Dan Horrigan steps aside at the end of his current term.
Here are the candidates you'll see on the ballot.
- Joshua Schaffer
- Marco S. Sommerville
- Jeff Wilhite
- Mark U. Greer
- Shammas Malik
- Keith Mills
- Tara L. Mosley
Here are highlights from a debate between the seven candidates, which was held on April 12, 2023:
Multiple school districts also have levies on the May ballot.
You can explore every issue throughout the state by checking the county-by-county document below:
WHAT FORM OF ID SHOULD I BRING SO I CAN VOTE?
You need to have a form of ID with you to cast a ballot on election day. Acceptable forms of identification as listed by the Secretary of State's office are as follows:
- Ohio driver's license;
- State of Ohio ID card;
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
- A US passport;
- A US passport card;
- US military ID card;
- Ohio National Guard ID card; or
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
All photo IDs must have the following:
- An expiration date that has not passed;
- A photograph of the voter;
- The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book
Ohio law prohibits acceptance of the following forms of ID:
- Driver’s license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio;
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- Insurance card
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Other government document
- Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections
WHAT IF I FORGET MY ID?
"If you do not provide one of the above forms of photo ID, you will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot," according to the Secretary of State. "However, for that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than four days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification. If you do not have a photo ID because of a religious objection to being photographed, you may complete an affidavit of religious objection and have your provisional ballot count."
WHEN WAS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION?
Monday, April 3.
WHAT ARE THE DATES FOR ABSENTEE VOTING?
- April 4: Absentee / early in-person voting began
- April 25: Deadline to request an absentee ballot arrives at 8:30 p.m.
- May 1: This is the date all absentee ballots must be postmarked.
- May 2: Absentee ballots can also be returned in person at your county Board of Elections by the time polls close at 7:30 p.m.
- May 6: Last day for boards to receive mail-in ballots that have been postmarked on or before May 1.
HOW DO I TRACK MY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Simple. There's a tracking tool for all Ohio voters to use HERE.
WHAT TIME WILL RESULTS COME IN?
We expect to see the first results shortly after 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots are the first votes counted, according to the Secretary of State's office.
WHERE CAN I WATCH FOR RESULTS?
WKYC will showcase live results all night long after the polls close, which you can check at wkyc.com/elections. Be sure to follow WKYC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for complete coverage. Here's what you can expect from 3News:
- Breaking election results will be available through push alerts with the free WKYC app. You can download it here: Android, Apple.
- Results and reaction as our reporters bring you details from the local issues and races that matter most to you and your family. Watch for these updates on What's New at 4 p.m., What's Now at 5 p.m., 3News at 6 p.m., Front Row at 7 p.m. and What's Next at 11 p.m.
- A complete election wrap up the following morning on GO! from 4:30-7 a.m.
- Subscribe to our free 3News to GO! newsletter HERE to have the election results and other top headlines sent straight to your e-mail inbox.