Voter Registration Information
Thank you for being a voter!
Tri-C proudly supports civic engagement year-round with the help of students, faculty and staff and is nationally recognized for its efforts.
2021 Voting Dates - Ohio
Every year, there is a Primary and General Election in Ohio. The Primary Election helps decide the final ballot candidate from each party for any elected seats up for vote in the Fall General Election. In both election cycles, there may be issues up for a vote as well. You must be registered to vote 30 days prior to any election.
Primary Election - Tuesday, May 4
- Last day for voter registration - Monday, April 5
General Election - Tuesday, Nov. 2
- Last day for voter registration - Monday, Oct. 4
In 2021, there are two additional Elections:
- Special Congressional Primary Election - Tuesday, Aug. 3
- Last day for voter registration - July 6
- This Primary will determine the final candidates to fill the 11th House District U.S. Congressional Seat vacated by Marcia Fudge, who now serves in President Biden's Administration.
- Mayoral Primary Elections - Tuesday, Sept. 14
- Last day for voter registration - Aug. 16
- The Mayor of Cleveland race is part of this Primary. The top two vote-getters will proceed to the General Election on Nov. 2.
- For All of the Above - Register online at VoteOhio.gov
- Once you're registered, choose how you want to vote.
- There are three choices:
- Vote-by-Mail - Your application must be received by the Board of Elections by 12:00 p.m. on the Saturday before Election Day. (Sooner is better; you can request your absentee ballot anytime, as long as you're registered.)
- Early Voting: This in-person option will take place at one place in the County. In Cuyahoga County - that location is the Board of Elections (BOE) at E. 30th and Euclid. Details can be found at the BOE Website - 443vote.us
- Vote in person on Election Day at your local polling location, 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Find your polling location.
How to Vote-by-Mail
Once registered to vote, you can request an Absentee Ballot and Vote-by-Mail from home. The Vote-by-Mail process has a few steps and takes a few days/weeks.
Here are the key steps and dates:
- Step 1: Request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot if you're registered. Do this today! Fill out a Vote-by-Mail Ballot Application form to request an absentee ballot. The latest this request can be received at the Board of Elections (BOE) is Saturday, before the election, at noon. Note: Given the volume of requests, and the time needed to travel back and forth via USPS, sooner is always better. Also, there is no way to vote online. USPS or in-person delivery of your ballot to the BOE are the only choices.
- You can request a a Vote-by-Mail ballot in one of four ways:
- If you have online access and a printer: Complete a form online, print and mail to the Board of Elections. Head Here to start that process. Use the "Print Form" option when prompted. Note: There is no way to submit the form online, it must be mailed.
- If you have online access, but no printer: Visit the Board of Elections website here - fill in your name and birthday to access the form Use the "Mail Form" option.
- No online access? Call the BOE at 216-443-VOTE (8683) and ask the Board to mail you a Vote-by-Mail application.
- In Person: The BOE (2925 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland) has an area just inside the back door where you can complete and drop your application. There also is a secure drop box in the parking lot to drop off the form.
- You can request a a Vote-by-Mail ballot in one of four ways:
- Step 2: The day after the Voter Registration deadline, the BOE will begin mailing ballots to vote with from home. Get in line now and send in your request. Note: the process may take some time after your request is received.
- Step 3: Vote and mail your completed ballot back to the Board of Elections. Currently, a stamp is needed on this step. Also, under state law, it must be postmarked by Monday, before Election Day. If you are unable to put it in mail, you can drop it off in the secure dropbox located in the Board of Elections parking lot at E. 30th and Euclid in Cuyahoga County by 7:30 p.m. on the actual Election Day.
Track Your Ballot
New to Vote-by-Mail? Just like you track a package, the Board of Elections (BOE) lets you track the progress of your request and ballot on their website. Head here.
The Voting Experience - Student-led voting events at Tri-C
All four Tri-C campuses will join to host Voter Registration events in conjunction with Constitution Day (9/17) through National Voter Registration Day (9/28). In an era marked by COVID-19, Tri-C Democracy Fellows are working with Government Relations, the Mandel Scholars Program, and Student Life to create virtual, online voting events for The Voting Experience in 2021 - now live!
- Thursday, Sept. 17 – Constitution Day
The Voting Experience - for students, by students - launches with the first five videos. - Tuesday, Sept. 28 – National Voter Registration Day (NVRD)
We'll continue to add student videos through this date to The Voting Experience. Tri-C is a national partner in the NVRD effort. We were proud to lead the County in Voter Registrations in 2017, 2018 and 2019. We're looking forward to our Students and Student Life participants, working in concert with Government Relations and our Campus Vote Project Democracy Fellows, to achieve new goals in 2021. - Oct. 4 – Last day to register to vote in the General Election
- Oct. 5 – Vote-by-Mail ballots begin being mailed out for the General Election
- Research your ballot ahead of time. Beginning Oct. 5, you can see your sample ballot at the BOE website. While it's heading your way in the mail, here are two non-partisan sites to review candidates: www.votesmart.org and judges: www.judge4yourself.com
- Think about making Oct. 23 - National Vote Early Day - your personal due date to return a Vote-by-Mail voted ballot. This gives USPS ten days to return your ballot by mail.
- Oct. 30 at noon: The last possible day applications for Vote-by-Mail absentee ballots for the Nov. 2 General Election must be received by the Board of Elections (by noon.)
- Nov. 1: Your voted ballots must be mailed via USPS and postmarked by today.
- Nov. 2: General Election Day 2021 (If not mailed by yesterday, Vote-by-Mail ballots must be dropped off in a secure box in the Board of Elections parking lot by 7:30 p.m.)
Voter Notes
- Voter Registration can be completed online.
- Vote-by-Mail requests must be printed, filled in and mailed or dropped off at the BOE.
- Voted Vote-by-Mail ballots must be mailed or dropped off at the BOE.
- Ohio Online Voter Registration - Secretary of State - VoteOhio.gov
Are You Registered to Vote?
We have three questions for you ...
- Have you moved in the last five years?
- Have you changed your name?
- If you answered yes to the first two your Voter Registration must be updated.
- Have you ever registered to vote? If no, sign up today and show the country that #TriCVotes!
Tri-C has joined with Google, Facebook, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (BOE) and thousands of partners across the country to annually celebrate American democracy with National Voter Registration Day the fourth Tuesday of each September. We are so proud to lead the County in Voter Registrations for the past three years.
Remember to Register to Vote, so your voice can be heard each election cycle. It's one way you can truly help change the world.
- All Ohioans can register/make updates online at VoteOhio.gov– with a valid address, an Ohio ID or Driver’s License, and last four digits of your SS#
- If you don’t have those at the moment, no worries. Simply fill out a paper form. Download it here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/elections/forms/4010.pdf. Fill it out, place in an envelope and mail it, or drop it off, to your local County Board of Elections.
Facts for Thought …
- In any five-year period, 45% of eligible voters will move – and voter registration doesn't’t travel with you. Each move requires you to update your address in order to keep voting.
- In half of the country’s most populous cities, less than 20% of the population voted and determined the next mayor. Register now to be heard in each Primary and November election. #TriCVotes