This year, cities across Cuyahoga County will choose their local elected officials. Six cities — Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, Garfield Heights, Lakewood and Maple Heights — will hold primary elections on Sept. 9 to determine which candidates go on to the general election in November.
In Cleveland, only the wards with more than two candidates will vote. Those wards are 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 12. Due to ward boundary changes, some wards have more than one incumbent in the race and some have none.
There are only two candidates for mayor of Cleveland, so that race won’t be decided until November.
In Cleveland Heights, voters are asked to choose between five candidates for mayor, and whether the current mayor, Kahlil Seren, should be recalled (removed from office immediately).
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (BOE) web site has sample ballots for all six cities.
You can follow Signal Cleveland’s ongoing election 2025 coverage on this page.
If you have any questions not answered here, email them to frank@signalcleveland.org or text them to 216-516-0885.
How do I check if I’m registered to vote?
You can check on this page or call the BOE at 216-443-VOTE (8683).
Even if you believe you are registered, it’s worth taking a few seconds to check. Ohio can “purge” voters from registration lists if they skipped the previous two federal (even-year) elections.
OK, I’m registered. How do I find my polling place?
You can use your address to check your polling place on this page. This is especially important in Cleveland, where more than 70,000 voters have new polling locations due to the ward boundary changes.
I’m not registered. Is there still time?
Yes, but not much. The deadline is Monday, Aug. 11. The exact time depends on the method you choose.
If you register online, you have until 11:59 p.m. Monday. At the top of the page, you will find a video that walks you through the process. You can use the same link to update your address if you’ve moved since the last time you voted. You’ll need the number from your current Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card (available for free from the BMV) and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
If you register in person at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections’ new location, 1803 Superior Ave., Cleveland, you have until 9 p.m. on Aug. 11. (The BOE is generally open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
If you register by mail, the application must be postmarked no later than Aug. 11. You can register by mail by downloading this form, filling it out and mailing it to:
Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
Registration Department
1803 Superior Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114
The BOE offers several videos explaining different parts of the voting process. You’ll find lots more information about voting in Ohio on the Secretary of State’s web site.
When does early voting start in Cuyahoga County?
Early voting for the September primary begins Tuesday, Aug. 12. There is only one place to vote in person, at the Board of Elections’ new location, 1803 Superior Ave., Cleveland. Early voting is available:
• Aug. 12 to Aug 29: weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 2: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Sept. 3 to 5: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 6: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 7: 1 to 5 p.m.
You will need to bring one of the following:
- 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
More information about early in-person voting can be found in this flyer.
To vote by mail, follow these instructions.
This story was updated to show that Cleveland’s Ward 8 also has a primary vote on Sept. 9.
