It’s Election Day, and we will have complete coverage and election results.
If you haven’t hit the polls for early voting, you might have some questions. We are here to help with answers.
We will also have news throughout the day, so be sure to check back.
What Ohio’s final pre-Election Day voting numbers say about this year’s electorate
2:01 p.m. | Andrew Tobias, Signal Statewide
This year’s early-vote numbers show a definite shift away from mail voting. They also show rural counties making up a larger share of the early vote than previous elections.
The early vote translates to around 31.3% of all registered voters, although more early votes will be recorded and counted after Election Day. That’s because there are 152,152 unreturned mail ballots. These will count as long as they were postmarked by Monday, and they arrive at their county boards of election before Saturday, under a state law that was most recently updated in 2022.
This year’s early-vote numbers show a definite shift away from mail voting. Sixty percent, or almost two-thirds, of all early votes cast this year were done in person. That’s almost the opposite from previous elections, when in-person votes generally made up around one-third of the early vote.
You can read a full breakdown of the numbers here.
What happens if Issue 1 passes? What if it fails?
1:15 p.m. | Signal Akron
Issue 1 is a proposed amendment to the Ohio constitution intended to prevent partisan gerrymandering by barring elected officials from participating in the redistricting process.
We know voters have questions on Issue and we want to make sure we answer them.
Let us know your questions here. We will be sure to share the answers.
What are Akron voters saying?
12 p.m. | Signal Akron
Keith Toomer, a 58-year-old Akron resident, has voted in elections for decades. And not just presidential elections.
“I look at it like this,” Toomer said from the voting location at City of Joy on West Exchange Street. “If you don’t use your right to vote, you really can’t complain about what’s going on out here.
“The only thing that’s going to change anything is just to get out and vote.”
Toomer has a special interest in local ballot issues, including Issue 1, which will change the way voting districts in Ohio are drawn, if it passes.
See what others are saying.
When will election results start coming in?
10:20 a.m. | Signal Akron
According to the Associated Press, first votes were reported for Ohio in November of 2020 at 7:39 p.m.
About 95% of total votes cast were reported by midnight.
The Associated Press breaks down what to watch for in key states throughout the country here.
How long will it take to know the winner in the presidential race?
The Associated Press reports:
Election Day in the United States is now often considered election week as each state follows its own rules and practices for counting ballots — not to mention the legal challenges — that can delay the results. But the truth is, nobody knows how long it will take for the winner to be announced this time.
In 2020, the Associated Press declared President Joe Biden the winner on Saturday afternoon — four days after polls closed. But even then, the AP called North Carolina for Trump 10 days after Election Day and Georgia for Biden 16 days later after hand recounts.
Four years earlier, the 2016 election was decided just hours after most polls closed. The AP declared Trump the winner on election night at 2:29 a.m. (it was technically Wednesday morning on the East Coast).
This time, both campaigns believe the race is extremely close across the seven swing states that are expected to decide the election, barring a major surprise: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The size of the map and the tightness of the race make it hard to predict when a winner could be declared.
I requested a vote-by-mail ballot but haven’t sent my ballot back. Can I still drop it off?
9:35 a.m. | Signal Akron
Yes. Each county has a drop box where you can still return mail-in ballots. They must be returned by the time polls close at 7:30 pm today. Summit County’s drop box is at the Board of Elections, 470 Grant St., Akron.
You cannot drop those ballots off at your polling location.You must take them to the board office.
If you are thinking about dropping off someone else’s ballot, Secretary of State Frank LaRose recently instituted new rules for using absentee ballot drop boxes located outside county boards of elections. You can read the details here.
What’s Issue 1 in Ohio?
8:45 a.m. | Andrew Tobias, Signal Statewide
It’s an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would change the state’s system for drawing political district maps for Congress members and state lawmakers. Drawing maps is referred to as redistricting.
It’s an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would change the state’s system for drawing political district maps for Congress members and state lawmakers. Drawing maps is referred to as redistricting.
The fate of the world won’t change on Nov. 5th with the passage or failure of Issue 1. But Ohio must redraw its state legislative and congressional district lines at least every 10 years to reflect population changes. Issue 1 offers voters a chance to influence how the process unfolds, by backing or rejecting it.
If Issue 1 passes, the state’s legislative maps will be redrawn ahead of the 2026 elections, five years earlier than they would be if it fails, under the new rules. So will Ohio’s congressional maps, although they’re due for a redraw either way. That means you have a real hand in Ohio’s democracy.
Need more information? You can find our procrastinator’s guide here.
What are Summit County issues 41 and 42?
8 a.m. | Signal Akron
Summit County residents will find two proposed charter amendments on their ballots, Issue 41 and Issue 42. Summit County’s Charter Review Commission meets every five years to discuss potential amendments to the county charter, which details the laws, structures and procedures that the county uses to govern. Summit and Cuyahoga are the only counties in Ohio that operate under a charter government model.
You can read more about each issue here.
What do I need to take with me to vote?
7:15 a.m. | Signal Akron
When voting on Election Day, voters must present a photo ID. These are the acceptable options:
• Ohio driver’s license-unexpired
• State of Ohio ID card-unexpired
• Interim ID form issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• U.S. military ID card
• Ohio National Guard ID card
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID cardOhio identification cards are free from Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ deputy registrar license agencies (locations). This interactive page can help you determine which personal documents you will need to bring to prove your identity.
What time does voting start on Election Day in Ohio?
Polls in Ohio are open at 6:30 a.m.
What time do the polls close on Election Day?
Polls close at 7:30 p.m. If you are in line then but haven’t voted yet, you will be allowed to vote.
What’s on the ballot in Ohio and Akron?
You can find a sample ballot for your district online.The League of Women Voters’ Vote 411 website has a more in-depth look at the candidates and their platforms, but here are some of the races you can expect to see on the ballot.
Where can I find election results?
We will have results for races after polls close. You can also find complete results at the Summit County Board of Elections as well as the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.
What’s the weather forecast?
It will be mostly sunny with a high of 78.
How do I find my polling location?
You can find your polling location at the website for the Summit County Board of Elections.
You will need to provide your name and date of birth.
And if you are helping a friend in another county find a polling location, you can find any of Ohio’s 88 boards of elections at the Secretary of State’s website.
