Voting Tips and Deadlines: What You Need to Know Before You Go to the Polls

Election Day is less than two weeks away. Below are a few tips and important deadlines for Lorain County voters to note:

Early voting: Early voting continues at the Lorain County Board of Elections now through Nov. 4 at 1985 North Ridge Road, East in Lorain. The office is open Monday – Friday, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. through Nov. 3. Early voting remains open through 6 p.m. on Nov. 4.

Nov. 4: Last day for residents voting by mail to drop off applications at the Board of Elections, deadline 6 p.m.

Nov. 5: Board of Elections must receive mailed ballot application requests by 12 p.m. for voters to be eligible to vote by mail.

Nov. 7: Ballots mailed in the U.S. must be postmarked on or before this date.

Nov 8: Election Day. Polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mailed ballots may be dropped off in person, but they must be delivered to the Board of Elections. Do not return mailed ballots to polling locations.

Nov. 18: Absentee ballots returned by U.S. Mail from within the United States must be postmarked no later than Nov. 7 and received by boards of elections by this date to be counted.

Check your polling location: It may have changed. The Board of Elections sends out postcards with information about new polling places, but to confirm you can click here to view a current Lorain County street address to precinct-polling place guide.   

What to bring to the polling location: According to the Lorain County Board of Elections, voters need “current and valid photo identification; military identification; or a copy of a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document.

If your address does not match what's currently on your identification card: "voters must bring military identification, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and current address.”

If you don’t have one of these documents: Voters who do not provide one of these documents at the polling place will still be able to vote a provisional ballot and may provide such identification to the board of elections within the 10 days following Election Day. Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a Social Security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation statement swearing to the voter’s identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot.

Information courtesy of the Lorain County Board of Elections. For more details, visit the Lorain County Board of Elections website  or call 440-326-5900.