This article was written in 2018 but has been updated to reflect 2021’s voter registration deadline, October 4.
By Rosalie Murphy
Whether you’re new to Akron or haven’t moved in a decade, or whether you last voted three months ago or three years ago, take a few minutes today to make sure that your voter registration is up to date.
If it isn’t, you may not be able to cast a vote in November.
To start, visit https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/toolkit/ and choose “Check your voter registration.” Enter your name and county to see what the state has on file.
If your name and address are accurate, you’re registered. Great! Now, share this guide with three friends who may not be.
If your address isn’t accurate, you need to update your registration. You may have moved to a new city council ward or state legislative district, which means you have new elected representatives and need to vote in a new place.
If you don’t appear in the database, you may not be registered at all.
Either way, let’s fix that.
How to register online:
1. Make sure you have a copy of your Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card and that you know the last four digits of your social security number. If you don’t have a driver’s license or Ohio ID, you can’t register online.
2. Visit https://olvr.sos.state.oh.us.
3. Click “Let’s get started” and begin filling out your details. You will need your full name, address, birth date, and the ID information above.
4. The Summit County Board of Elections is required to mail a confirmation notice to your address within 20 business days, or about four weeks. If you don’t receive that notice, call the BOE at 330-643-5200.
How to register in person:
You can register to vote in person at:
- Any public library
- Public high schools or vocational schools
- Any Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles location
- The Summit County Board of Elections at 470 Grant St.
1. When you visit any of these places, tell a clerk that you want to register to vote. They will provide you with a registration form.
2. After you fill it out, ask if they will take it to the Summit County Board of Elections office. Most will say yes.
3. If they say no, you will have to mail your registration form to The Summit County Board of Elections at 470 Grant St., Akron, OH 44311, or drop it off there in person. The BOE is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm. You can also register in person at the BOE.
If you fill out your form in person at the BOE or at a library or school, the BOE must receive it by Oct. 4, 2021. The sooner you fill out your registration form, the better.
If you or someone you love has a felony conviction: People convicted of felonies who have been released from prison are eligible to vote. Those who are currently incarcerated cannot vote. Note that voter registration is cancelled at the time of a conviction — so if you haven’t voted since you were convicted, you’ll need to re-register, even if your address hasn’t changed.
If you have any specific questions, call the BOE at 330-643-5200.