The deadline to register to vote in the May 5 primary election, and the start of early voting, are quickly approaching. This election cycle includes federal, state and county offices. Here’s what you need to know about the races, how to register to vote and an important change to voting by mail.

What races are on the ballot in Cuyahoga County?

This year, voters across Ohio will choose the state’s next U.S. senator, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, and two (of seven) Ohio Supreme Court justices.

Every member of the U.S. and Ohio Houses of Representatives is also up for re-election, as well as about half of the state senators. (This website can help you find what state and federal districts you live in.)

In Cuyahoga County, citizens will vote on the county executive, members of county council in odd-numbered districts (find yours) and judges for the Court of Common Pleas and the Eighth District Court of Appeals.

Candidates who win the May primary vote will move on to the general election in November.

How to register to vote or change your address in Cuyahoga County

The registration deadline is April 6. If you’re not sure that you’re registered, you can check on this page. You can also use any of the following methods to change your address if necessary.

Register online: You can register online on this page of the Ohio Secretary of State’s web site. You’ll need the number from your current Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card and the last four digits of your Social Security number. A video on the page walks you through the process. 

Register in person: Visit the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections’ new location, 1803 Superior Ave., Cleveland. It’s open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. But it will stay open until 9 p.m. on April 6.

Lots of library branches, Ohio license bureaus and other locations will accept a voter registration application. Here is a complete list.

Register by mail: Download and print this form (or call the board of elections at (216) 443-8683 (VOTE) and ask them to mail you one). Fill it out and return it to:

Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
Registration Department
1803 Superior Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114

Your form must arrive by April 6.

Registering if you’re unhoused: The law allows citizens who are staying at a shelter to use that address to register. 

You need an ID to vote in Ohio

And only the following are acceptable:

• Ohio driver’s license

• State of Ohio ID card

• Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV

• U.S. passport or passport card

• U.S. military ID card

• Ohio National Guard ID card

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

If you don’t have one of these, you can get an Ohio ID card for free at a BMV deputy registrar license agency. (Find one on this map.) This page can help you figure out what documents you’ll need to bring.

If you don’t have access to your birth certificate, here’s how to get one online.

If you are unhoused and need help obtaining a birth certificate voucher, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless offers walk-in clinics every Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Community Church, 4427 Franklin Blvd., and first and third Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at Cosgrove Center, 1736 Superior Ave.

You can also call 211 and ask about other sites offering ID assistance through the Identification Crisis Collaborative organized by NEOCH.

Early in-person voting starts April 7

The Board of Elections office will be open for voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all weekdays through April 24.

The BOE is open for extended and weekend hours the last week before Election Day:

Monday, April 27: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 28: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 29, through Friday, May 1: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 2: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, May 3: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

New deadline for mail-in ballots

This year, ballots must arrive at the BOE no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark from that day is no longer enough. 

Mail-in voting is a two-step process — you have to request a ballot, then fill it in and return it. The steps are explained on this page.

Find your polling place

If you’re already registered, you can check on this page using your last name and date of birth. If you’re not registered yet, you can check on this page using your address.

If you live in Cleveland and did not vote in 2025, be sure to confirm your polling location. More than 70,000 Cleveland voters have new locations due to ward boundary changes.

Other questions about voting in Cuyahoga County?

The BOE offers several videos explaining different parts of the voting process. You can also call the BOE at 216-443-8683 (VOTE).