Office of Student Life

Your Student Life: How to Vote on Election Day

October 6, 2026

Election Day is coming up, and registering is only the first step! Be prepared to vote on Election Day by doing your research, making sure you have a valid photo ID and understanding what a provisional ballot is. OSU Votes, Student Life’s student-led movement to register, educate and encourage other students to vote, can help you prepare.


Where do I find my polling location?

Election Day polling locations vary based on the address at which you are registered to vote.

·         Registered Ohio voters in Franklin County can find their polling location online.

·         Registered Ohio voters can find their county's specific voter information online.

·         Registered out of state voters can find their state's specific voter information online.

Students registered in the Columbus campus area have convenient polling locations only a short walk or bus ride from their residences. Be sure to check your specific polling location before each election.


Where do I find my sample ballot?

A sample ballot is a ballot that has all of the candidates and measures for you to view before you vote.

·         Registered Ohio voters in Franklin County can find their sample ballot online.

·         Registered Ohio voters can find their county's specific voter information online.

·         Registered out of state voters can find their state's specific voter information online.

In Ohio, voters can utilize their cell phones to conduct research at the polls on Election Day. However, it is highly recommended to review your sample ballot and conduct research prior to Election Day.


What do I need to bring when I vote?

Valid photo ID is required for in-person voting in Ohio. You can use any of the following:

·         Ohio driver's license or state of Ohio ID card

·         Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV

·         A U.S. passport or U.S. passport card

·         U.S. military ID, Ohio National Guard ID or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

For in-person voting in Ohio, ID from any other state is not considered a valid form of identification to vote on Election Day. Without an Ohio ID, students must bring another form of valid photo ID listed above to vote on Election Day. If you do not have any of the above forms of valid voter ID, you can vote absentee in Ohio or choose to vote in your home state. Each state's voter ID laws are different, so be sure to check the specific requirements for your state.

·         Registered out of state voters can find their state's specific voter information online.

·         Registered Ohio voters without a valid form of ID can learn about absentee voting on our website.

Unacceptable forms of identification for in-person voting include:

·         Driver’s license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio 

·         Expired valid forms of photo ID listed above

·         OSU Statement of account

·         BuckID

·         Social Security card

·         Birth certificate

·         Insurance car 

·         Utility bill

·         Bank statement

·         Government check

·         Paycheck

·         Other government document 

·         Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections 

 

What is a provisional ballot?

A provisional ballot is a ballot that one can cast when a voter would not otherwise be able to vote at their polling location. If you have to fill out a provisional ballot, you will still vote on all the candidates and issues, but additional steps will need to be taken to make sure your ballot is counted on Election Day.

A provisional ballot cast by an individual who is not registered to vote in Ohio by the voter registration deadline cannot be counted. You must cast your provisional ballot at the correct precinct for your current address. Provisional ballots cast at the wrong precinct will not be counted. Below are common reasons why a student may be asked to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day in Ohio. 

·         The voter does not provide or is unable to provide proper or valid identification

·         The voter has moved to a different precinct without updating their address by the voter registration deadline

·         The voter is marked in the poll book as having requested an absentee ballot and appears at a precinct polling location to vote on Election Day


To complete a provisional ballot, you must complete and sign the Provisional Ballot Affirmation Statement at your polling location. You are required to include:

·         The voter's printed name

·         The voter's valid signature

·         The voter's date of birth

·         The voter's current address

·         An acceptable form of ID*

*If you do not have a valid photo ID on Election Day and cast a provisional ballot, you must present a valid photo ID to the Board of Elections within four days of the election for you ballot to be counted. An expired ID or ID from a state other than Ohio are not considered valid forms of photo ID. If you do not have a valid form of photo ID then you will need to cast an absentee ballot.


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