Ohio

Your rights at the polls guide

Your Rights Under Federal Law

  • All voters have the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of race, national origin, or disability.
  • All voters have the right to vote free of intimidation.
  • All voters who need assistance by reason of disability or inability to read and write in the language of the ballot may choose someone to assist them to vote, as long as the person is not an agent/representative of the voter’s employer or union.

Your Rights When You
Check-In To Vote

Only a precinct election official may challenge a voter at a polling place.
You can only be challenged as to four things:
  • Your residence in the precinct
  • Whether you’ve lived in Ohio for at least 30 days before Election Day
  • Your citizenship status
  • Whether you are of legal age to vote

Challengers CANNOT single out groups of people for challenges, such as only challenging residence of students.

Challenges CANNOT be based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national origin, or any other characteristics not relevant to voter qualifications.

After a challenge, you have the right to:
  • Complete an affirmation form
  • Cast a regular ballot, if a majority of the precinct election officials determine you are eligible to vote
  • Cast a provisional ballot, if a majority of precinct election officials cannot determine if you are eligible to vote
  • Provide supporting documentation up to 4 days after Election Day and have your ballot counted, if you cast a provisional ballot
  • Be directed to the correct polling place if a precinct election official tells you that you are at the wrong location
If you are asked to complete a provisional ballot, stay in line and contact Election Protection before taking further action.

Q&A: Your rights inside the polling place

01. What can poll workers ask me?
  • To present a valid form of identification, if you vote in person on Election Day. Voters without valid ID have the right to cast a provisional ballot.
  • To present a valid form of identification, a driver’s license number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number, if you vote early in person.
  • If you are voting for the first time after registering to vote using a mail application, you may be asked to provide identification or another document proving your identity.
  • Precinct election officials will also ask you for your full name and current address.
  • If you are challenged, you will be prompted to complete an affirmation form that includes a series of questions to help determine your eligibility.
02. Who can I speak to if I am having any issues or problems with a poll worker?
  • Talk to the voting location manager. If that does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection.
03. I notice some poll watchers are taking photographs inside the polling place. Is that allowed?
  • No, poll watchers may not take photographs or videos of voters. This is an example of voter intimidation.
04. Who gets to decide who is inside the polling place?
  • Precinct election officials determine who is allowed inside.
05. Who can I talk to if someone is trying to get in the way of me completing my ballot?
  • You should speak with a precinct election official.
06. What are my rights if I need help voting?
Voters are entitled to assistance. If you have a disability that requires assistance to vote, you may receive assistance from a person of your choice, except your employer, an officer or agent of your union, or a candidate whose name appears on the ballot. You may also receive assistance from two precinct election officials.

Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Ohio legal professional. Updated August 2024. Contact Fair Elections Center at
info@fairelection.codpixels.com

If you have questions or are experiencing problems voting, call the Election Protection Hotline and speak with a volunteer to get help.
  • Call in English: 866-OUR-VOTE
  • CALL in Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA
  • Call in Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE
  • CALL in Arabic: 844-YALLA-US

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