Voting Resources: ID Requirements

Online Registration

For online voter registration, an Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number is required.

Link to online registration form on Ohio Secretary of State website.  

Mail-in Registration

You must provide a copy of one of the documents listed on the form to verify residence:

• Driver’s license number
• Last four digits of Social Security number
• Either a current and valid photo ID or military ID with your name and address
• A copy of a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and current address.”

Link to mail-in Registration form can be found here. 

If you cannot meet any of the above requirements, you may cast a provisional ballot subject to verification of your eligibility to vote. Find form for provisional voting here. 

Every voter must announce his or her full name and current address and provide proof of identity to vote at a polling place.

The forms of identification that may be used by a voter include:​

• An unexpired Ohio driver’s license or state identification card with present or former address so long as the voter’s present residential address is printed in the official list of registered voters for that precinct
• A military identification 
• An original or copy of a current utility bill with the voter’s name and present address
• An original or copy of a current bank statement with the voter’s name and present address
• An original or copy of a current government check with the voter’s name and present address
• An original or copy of a current paycheck with the voter’s name and present address
• An original or copy of a current other government document with the voter’s name and present address.

For utility bills, bank statements, government checks, paychecks, and other government documents, “current” is defined as within the last 12 months.   “Utility bill” includes a cell phone bill.

Provisional ballots: If you do not have any of the above forms of identification you may provide either your Ohio driver’s license number, state identification number, 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, 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.”

More information on identification requirements here.