Voter Registration
Absentee Voting
UOCAVAVoter Registration
Qualifications to Register to Vote in Ohio
To be qualified to register to vote in Ohio, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be a United States citizen.
- Be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the next general election. (If you will be 18 before the November election, you may vote on candidates only for primary elections held in the current year. You must be 18 to vote on all issues and local options.)
- Be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 consecutive days immediately before the the election in which you wish to vote.
- You must not be incarcerated (in prison or jail) for a felony conviction under the Ohio laws, laws of another state, or the laws of the United States.
- You must not have been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court.
- You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violating election laws.
Where to Register
You may download and use the voter registration form here. Fill it out and mail it to us at: Board of Elections, 2079 U.S. Highway 23 North, Delaware, OH 43015-8006.
If you prefer, we have registration forms available at many local designated agencies. Click here for a list of agencies.
Updating Your Registration
You must complete a new >voter registration form to update your voter record, if you have changed your name or your address. Voters must submit these changes to the Board of Elections by the registration deadline in order to cast a regular ballot on Election Day.
Absentee Voting
Early Voting In-Person
Delaware County voters may cast absentee ballots in person prior to Election Day at the Delaware County Board of Elections Vote Center. The early in-person voting period begins 35 days before the day of an election and ends at 6 p.m. the Friday before the election.
Absentee Voting by Mail
Voters who prefer to vote by mail can complete an absentee ballot request form and mailing it to our office. You may track your request form and your absentee ballot by using our new Absentee Lookup. You will receive your ballot in the mail with instructions for returning the ballot. For your absentee ballot to be counted, it must be received as follows:
- By U.S. mail: The return envelope containing your marked ballot must either be received by the board of elections prior to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, or postmarked no later than the day before the election and received by the board of elections no later than 10 days after that election. (Note: Ohio's election law states that "postmarked" does not include a date marked by a postage evidence system, such as a postage meter. Therefore, the return envelope must bear a valid postage cancellation stamp affixed by the U.S. Postal Service.)
- In person, either by you or an eligible family member: Your marked ballot, which must be sealed in the completed and signed identification envelope provided with the ballot, must be delivered to the board of elections office no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Provisional Voting
What is a provisional ballot? A provisional ballot is used to record a vote if a voter's eligibility is in question and the voter would otherwise not be permitted to vote at his or her polling place. The content of a provisional ballot is no different from a regular ballot, but it is cast "provisionally" until election officials can verify the voter's eligibility to vote in the particular precinct at that election.
Any of the following scenarios would require you to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day:
- Your name does not appear on the official poll list for an election, or an election official asserts that you are not eligible to vote or is unable to determine your eligibility;
- You are unable or decline to provide the required proof of identity, which includes a 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 that shows your name and currentaddress (including from a public college or university). (Note: You cannot use as proof of identification a voter registration acknowledgement notice that the board of elections mailed to you.);
- Your name appears on the poll list or signature book as having requested an absentee ballot;
- Your name is marked on the poll list or signature book with a notation that registration mailings have been returned as undeliverable;
- A hearing on a challenge to your eligibility as an elector has been postponed until after Election Day;
- Your signature, in the opinion of the precinct officers, does not match the signature on your registration form; or
- Your eligibility to cast a ballot has been challenged by the precinct officers.
Uniformed & Overseas Voters (UOCAVA)
The MRV packet is specially designed for active duty servicemen and women, allowing you to register to vote and request an absentee ballot for all elections in one calendar year, using the same, standard form. No postage is required.
Registering to vote and applying for an absentee ballot are as simple as completing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form and returning it to our office. You can use the FPCA to register to vote if you are not already registered and to apply for an absentee ballot for the entire calendar year.
For additional information, please visit Ohio Military Votes.
Voter Registration Cancellation
If you are currently registered to vote in Delaware County, in another county in Ohio, or another state, and would like to cancel your registration, please fill out the cancellation request form, and mail it to our office.
