Accessible Voting in Ohio
For the Tuesday, November 8, 2022 General election in Ohio
- You must be registered to vote.
- All voters can request a ballot by mail.
- Early voting locations are open before Election Day
- Voters with disabilities can use an accessible vote-by-mail system.
- All voters are asked to show a photo ID.
Accessible Voting Tips
As a voter with a disability, you have a right to vote privately and independently, at an accessible voting location, on an accessible voting system.
If you need more information or assistance using your right to vote, these organizations can help
- Visit your state Voters with Disabilities page or call (877) SOS-OHIO or (877) 767-6446 ext 1 for the options available in your state.
- Contact your local election office for help voting and details about local support for accessible voting.
- Your local Center for Independent Living has information and other support.
- Call your state National Disability Rights Network (NRDN) Protection & Advocacy office if someone is interfering with your right to vote.
- If you are a first-time voter or moved recently, check the voter ID requirements in your state. VoteRiders has information about the types of identification accepted.
- You can also call 1-800-OUR-VOTE to report any problems voting.
Your rights
As a voter with a disability, you have a right to:
- Vote privately and independently
- At an accessible polling place
- Using an accessible voting system
If you need assistance you can:
- Ask an election worker, or
- Bring someone to help you
You may request your local election officials to tell you about any voting aids, voting assistance, and absentee ballot procedures that are available.
Election officials must make any reasonable accommodations you need to vote. This might include
- A place to sit if you have trouble standing
- A quiet, private place to vote
You cannot be refused the right to vote because an election worker thinks your disability means you are not qualified to vote.
Open the sections on this page to learn more about accessible options for early voting, voting in person on election day, and voting by mail.
Accessible voting features in Ohio for voters with disabilities
- Check with your local election office to see if you can vote by mail for all elections.
- Voters with print disabilities can use an accessible vote-by-mail system.
Ask your local election office about other support for accessible voting, like:
- Election and voting information in large print, audio, or Braille versions.
- Curbside or drive-up voting, so you don’t have to get out of your car.
- Ballot delivery to your home or a “ride to the polls” program.
- An opportunity to practice using the accessible voting system.
- Emergency voting options if you are hospitalized or ill.
- How to get assistance in marking and casting your ballot.
- Other services or assistance for voters with disabilities.
Learn more about the laws that protect your rights
Early voting is voting in person before Election Day, which is usually less crowded than going to vote on Election Day itself. There are different kinds of early voting, so check the options available for you. They might include:
- vote centers where you can vote at any location in your jurisdiction
- super polling places where you are assigned a location
- voting at an elections office or satellite office
- in-person absentee, where you go to an elections office, get your mail ballot, and then mark and cast it in the office.
Early voting is called in-person absentee voting in Ohio.
October 6 through November 2, early voting is available at early voting centers and at your local election office.
Early voting hours and locations can vary. Check with your local elections office.
- All voters are asked to show identification.
- Voters without ID can sign an affidavit.
- You can drop off your ballot at all early voting locations for your jurisdiction.
Find an early voting center near you.
When you vote in person on Election Day, you go to a voting center to mark and cast your ballot in person. Every in-person voting location is required to have accessible voting systems available.
Polling places are open from 6:30 am - 7:30 pm.
- All voters are asked to show identification.
- Voters without ID can sign an affidavit.
You can drop off your mail ballot at your local elections office on Election Day.
Find your polling place.
Accessible voting systems for in-person voting
The accessible voting systems used in Ohio are shown below. Contact your local election office for more information or a change to practice using the system you will vote on.
AutoMARK
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on the front of the device.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using an AutoMARK
- Short video from Wisconsin Elections (YouTube 3:55)
- Video from NY City Board of Elections (YouTube 13:47)
Clear Ballot ClearAccess
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using ClearAccess
- Short video tutorial from Clear Ballot (YouTube 1:49)
- Clear Access product page
- Information about ClearAccess 2.0 from Pennsylvania
Dominion ImageCast X (DRE)
A voting system where votes are recorded electronically.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
May include a paper audit trail (VVPAT), printed and viewed behind glass.
Learn more about using Dominion ICX These videos cover the use of this system as a ballot marking device
- Short video tutorial from Pennsylvania (YouTube 2:32)
- Short video tutorial from Sacramento (YouTube 3:40)
- Longer instructional video from Michigan (YouTube 15:16)
Dominion ImageCast Evolution
A ballot marking device attached to a ballot scanner.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed internally and cast on the same device.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Dominion ImageCast Precinct BMD
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen and audio tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed and then cast at a scanner.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Learn more about using the Dominion ICP
ES&S ExpressVote
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The printed ballot is a list of selections printed on a narrow card.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using ExpressVote
- Short video tutorial from Pennsylvania (YouTube 1:53)
- Video from Michigan (You Tube 12:29)
- Information about ExpressVote from Pennsylvania
ES&S ExpressVote Tabulator
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The printed ballot is a list of selections printed on a narrow card.
Ballots are cast and counted at the ballot marking device.
Learn more about the ExpressVote Tabulator
Hart InterCivic Verity Touch Writer
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls using the Hart “move wheel.”
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
The ballot is cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using the Touch Writer
- Short video tutorial from Hart (YouTube 2:29)
- Longer instructional video from Michigan (YouTube 11:36)
- Information about Verity Touch Writer from Pennsylvania
- Verity Touch Writer product page from Hart InterCivic
Unisyn OpenElect Freedom Vote Tablet (FVT)
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed on a small strip of paper using a built-in printer.
Learn more about using the Freedom Voting Tablet
- Short video tutorial from Unisyn (Vimeo 3:47 - no captions)
- OpenElect FVT product page from Unisyn
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Voting by mail can be an accessible option for voters with disabilities. It lets you vote at home, so you can mark, verify and return a paper ballot privately and independently. Some states have emergency options if you are hospitalized or ill. |
Deadline to return your ballot
Postmarked by the day before Election Day, November 7, and received by November 18 for mailed ballots.
Delivered by Election Day, November 8 at 7:30 pm to your County Board of Elections for hand-delivered ballots.
How to get your ballot
- All voters can request a ballot.
- All voters must request a ballot for each election.
To get your ballot you can:
- Download, print, and mail a request form.
Contact your local elections office to find out how to request a ballot.
- You must provide identification with your request form.
How to return your ballot
By mail
At your local elections office
At any ballot drop-off location
Find a ballot drop-off location near you at your local elections website.
Make sure your ballot counts! Remember...
If you mail your ballot, make sure it is postmarked by the day before Election Day.
Put enough postage on the envelope.
Make sure your ballot is sealed in the envelope.
Sign the form on the envelope.
- A family member, household member, or caregiver can return your ballot for you. Contact your local elections office for more information.
- If someone helped you, have them complete the form for assistants.
Learn about accessible voting by mail options in the next card.
Accessible voting by mail allows voters with disabilities to mark a mail-in ballot electronically, using their own technology and assistive tools.
To use accessible tools for voting by mail, typically voters:
- Download an electronic ballot to mark using personal technology
- Print the ballot and any signature form
- Seal the ballot in an envelope
- Return it by mail or to a ballot drop off locatoin
Some states allow electronic return by email, fax, or a secure portal.
In Ohio, the accessible vote by mail program is run by the local elections offices
Use the online form to requst access to the Remote Ballot Marking System for statewide elections. You must provide one form of ID:
- The last 4 digits of your Social Security number
- Your Ohio driver license number
- Copy of a current and valid photo identification with your name and address
You will receive your ballot by email.
Your county board of elections will mail an identification envelope/statement of voter and a return envelope to you.
Deadline to return your ballot
Postmarked by the day before Election Day, November 7, and received by November 18 for mailed ballots.
Delivered by Election Day, November 8 at 7:30 pm to your County Board of Elections for hand-delivered ballots.
Returning a printed ballot
After marking your ballot using the remote ballot marking system, print your ballot, enclose it with your identification envelope/statement of voter in the return envelope.
To return your ballot to your county board of elections, you can:
- By mail
- At your local election office
- You or a near relative may deliver it in person to the elections office.
The systems in use in Ohio for accessible voting by mail are:
Enhanced Voting Enhanced Ballot
Accessible system for voting by mail.
Electronic ballot delivery to mark and print.
Claims WCAG 2.0 Level AA and Section 508 compliance.
Learn more about using Enhanced Ballot
Triad GSI Accessible Ballot Marking Tool (ABMT)
Accessible system for voting by mail.
Electronic ballot delivery to mark and print.
Learn more about accessible voting options in Ohio