This year, the Ohio Primary Election is Tuesday, May 5 and Ohio voters have the chance to vote on what candidates they want to move onto the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Leading up to the primary election, Ohio voters can choose to vote early or request an absentee ballot.
According to ballotready.org more than 553 positions are up for election in Ohio in both county and federal positions.
BGSU Votes, a nonpartisan student-led initiative with a focus on political engagement, sent an email to students on Friday, April 17 with resources such as absentee early voting steps, early voting locations and Ohio voter identification requirements.
Marvin Center Student Coordinator and member of BGSU Votes, D’Mya Brown, says why people may choose early voting.
“People choose early voting because it can help avoid long lines on Election Day, it offers more flexible scheduling and can generally make voting easier for people like college students with busy schedules or work, class conflicts,” Brown said.
In contrast to election day voting, Brown notes early in-person voting is held at a different location.
“In Ohio, early in-person voting typically happens at your county Board of Elections office, not your usual Election Day polling place,” she said. “Voters can confirm their early in-person voting location by visiting www.OhioSOS.gov.”
Early voting takes place 29 days before an election and ends the Sunday before Election Day. Brown notes there are typically weekday hours, extended evening hours and weekend voting including May 3, the final Sunday.
