Get Out To Vote!
Useful links (general):
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/voting-rights/
Useful links for Ohio/Cincinnati:
https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/
https://votehamiltoncountyohio.gov/
https://www.warrencountyvotes.com/
Key dates for Ohio:
- Early voting starts Tuesday, October 6th!
- Deadline to request a mail-in ballot: Oct 29
- When your ballot needs to be postmarked by November 3
- Voter registration deadlines:
- Online: Oct. 5
- By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 5
- In-person: Oct. 5
- Absentee ballot deadlines
- Request: Received by Oct. 31
- Return by mail: Postmarked by Nov. 2
- Return in person: Nov. 3 by 7:30 p.m.
Key questions to ask your network:
- Are you registered to vote?
- Have you checked your voter registration status?
- Have you requested an absentee ballot?
- Are you voting in-person early or on election day?
Voter Registration
ASK: Are you registered to vote? Have you confirmed your registration recently?
→ Encourage them to double-check their voter registration: https://voterlookup.ohiosos.gov/voterlookup.aspx
If registered:
ASK: Have you decided whether you’re planning on voting in person or by mail this year?
If voting by mail:
ASK: Great! Have you requested an absentee ballot yet? The deadline to request an absentee ballot in Ohio is Oct 31st.
If yes: Awesome! Do you know what day you want to mail in your ballot?
→ Encourage them to mail their ballot ASAP (must be post-marked by November 3rd in OH) or consider dropping their ballot at a dropbox https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5c1a4a20bcff4d649a9b97a12e66c9f1
If no: It’s ok! You can request an absentee ballot here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-voting/
In-person voting:
You: “Are you planning on voting early or on Election Day?”
Voting early in-person:
SHARE & ASK: Early voting in Ohio starts Oct 6th. Do you know what day you want to vote early in-person?
→ Follow up: Do you know what time of day you’re going: morning, afternoon, evening? Before work, or take a break from work to vote?
→ Follow up: Do you know where to early vote? If not, you can look it up https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-officials/county-boards-of-elections-directory/
SHARE: I recommend budgeting for more time than usual to cast your ballot – a lot of people will be voting early because of the current circumstances and turnout is usually much higher for Presidential elections.
What you need to bring:
- You will need to show ID to vote in Ohio. Acceptable forms include: an unexpired Ohio driver’s license or state ID card; a military ID; a photo ID issued by the US government or the State of Ohio, that contains your name and current address and that has an expiration date that has not passed; or a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document (other than a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections) that shows your name and current address.
- Voters without ID: If you do not have any of the above forms of identification you may provide either your Ohio driver’s license or state identification number (which begins with two letters followed by six numbers) or the last four digits of your Social Security number and cast a provisional ballot. Once the information is reviewed and verified by the board of elections, your ballot will be counted.
- If you do not provide one of the above documents or your driver’s license/state identification number or the last four digits of your Social Security number at the precinct, you will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. However, in order for that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than seven days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification.
Voting in-person on Election Day:
SHARE: The polls are open from 6AM to 7PM on Election Day. Do you know what time of day you’re going: morning, afternoon, evening? Before work, or take a break from work to vote?
→ Follow up: Be aware that there will likely be very long lines and it may take several hours to vote on election day. How are you planning to get to your polling place?
Not planning to vote out of personal conviction – use the “Feel, Felt, Found” method to connect with voter:
Option 1: “What’s keeping you from voting?”
Option 2: “I understand how you feel… / I hear you, but I’ve found that…”
For example: “I used to feel like all politicians were corrupt, but I found that voting and getting other folks to vote makes elected officials pay attention to the issues we care about. The only way we will make our voices heard is if we vote in this critical election. The stakes have never been higher.”
You can find talking points for those who aren’t voting out of protest, people hesitant about getting involved with politics, etc. HERE.
***If you’re able to get them to agree to vote, identify if they are registered or not and either proceed with “If registered” or “If not registered” vote plan questions
Helpful lists:
