REGISTRATION INFORMATION   

View current deadlines for voter registration at our Upcoming Election Information page.

What are the qualifications for registering to vote?

• You must be a United States Citizen;
• You must be 18 years old on or before the day of the General Election;
• You must be a resident of Jefferson County for at least 30 days;
• You are not incarcerated (in prison) for a felony conviction under the laws of the United States;
• You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court;

Note:  You must be registered to vote in Ohio at least 30 consecutive days before an election.

Can I register to vote if I am a felon?

Yes, if you are not currently incarcerated.

How do I register to vote?

• You may register to vote at one of the following locations:
  • Any Public Library
  • Any Public High School or Vocational School
  • Any Office of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
  • Office of the Jefferson County Board of Elections
  • Office of the Jefferson County Treasurer
  • Office of the Jefferson County Clerk of Courts
  • Designated agencies that provide Public Assistance or Disability Programs

• Call the Jefferson County Board of Elections at (740) 283-8522 and ask that a Voter Registration Form be mailed to you. Complete it and mail it back.

Special Note: The federal election reform bill, the “Help America Vote Act of 2002,” provides new identification requirements for persons registering by mail and voting for the first time in a federal election.

Persons registering by mail must provide identification information when attempting to vote for the first time, unless the person provides his/her current Ohio driver’s license number or the last four digits of his/her social security number on the registration form. The identification information is either:

• a copy of a current and valid photo identification; or

• a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document showing name and address.

Do I declare my political party affiliation when I register to vote?

No. Under Ohio law, your political party affiliation is determined by the ballot you vote in a Partisan Primary Election.

What if I have changed my address or name?

If you are already registered to vote in Jefferson County and have changed your address or changed your name, you must update your voter registration at least 30 days before an election. You can do this at any of the locations listed above or by mail.

Exceptions:

If you change your name and/or move from one precinct to another in Jefferson County, you may report the change and vote by:

• appearing at the Board Office during the 28 days immediately prior to the election, or the 25 days immediately prior to the presidential primary election;
• appearing at the polling place in the precinct in which you now reside or the Board Office on election day.

If you move from one county to another in Ohio, you may report the change and vote at the Board of Elections in the county in which you now reside during the 28 days immediately prior to the election, or the 25 days immediately prior to the presidential primary election; or on Election Day.

If you vote under these circumstances, you will vote a provisional ballot, which is similar to an absentee ballot.

How is my residency determined?

Ohio law establishes your residence as the place in which you habitation is fixed and to which, whenever you are absent, you have the intention to return. A post office box or a business address is not an acceptable address for your residence.  If you continuously reside outside of Ohio for a period of four years or more, you are not a resident of this state for voter registration purposes, except if you are absent from Ohio because of federal or state government employment, including military service.

 VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

The information provided on this page is provided by the County Board of Elections and is their property and is copyrighted by that County.