Voting Rights Institute

• Ohio Governor, Ted Strickland touirng rural southern Ohio
  
  A voting rights institute is organized by the Ohio Secretary of State's Office. These training classes are open to all Ohio voters and are used to train poll workers prior to an election. During the educational sessions, voters learn about the election process, voter rights, and updates to legislation pertaining to public elections in Ohio. Interested parties can register for a session at the Ohio Voting Rights Institute by visiting the Ohio Secretary of State's website.
  
  

Disabled Voters

• 87th District Representative Clyde Evans greeting retired McArthur Mayor, Bob Dodrill Sr.
  
  Ohio voters with disabilities are assured the right to vote by state statute. Each polling station in Ohio must have at least one handicap accessible voting machine and wheelchair ramp for voters with disabilities. Handicap accessible voting machines are equipped to aid voters with hearing or visual impairments. The law requires all voters to sign their voter registration card. If a person with a disability can't sign her name or make a legal mark such as an "X" on the form, assistance must be given. An able-bodied assistant can make an "X" on a form when Board of Elections staffers view a visible indication to do so. Ohio law also provides for an "attorney-in-fact" to be designated by the person with disabilities to sign the registration card or change of address form.
  
  

Declaring a Political Party

• Former Ohio Governor, Bob Taft visitng Vinton County.
  
  Voting laws in Ohio do not require residents to sign any document noting a political party affiliation. Ohio law states that when a voter selects a particular voting form in a primary election, an affiliation is designated. Voters have the right to select a different primary ballot each voting season, without filing out any type of form, should the voter choose to switch ballots and party affiliation from a prior election.
  
  

Independent Voters

• Congressman Zack Space
  
  Independent voters, also defined by Ohio law as unaffiliated voters, can't vote in partisan races in a primary election. Ohio voting laws do provide the right for independent voters to vote during a primary election on issues, such as a levy, municipal law change or similar topics.
  
  

Absentee and Provisional Voters

• Ohio voters have the right to vote as an absentee by mail, or provisionally at the county Board of Elections office. Voters do not have to be out of the area or ill to vote absentee in Ohio. Voters who have recently moved within Ohio, and didn't register in the new precinct prior to the standard registration guidelines can cast provisional votes. Members of the armed forces can also vote provisionally from their out of the state or country military base. College students are afforded the right to choose to vote at their home precinct or from their college location. Should a college student choose to vote away from their previously registered location, a change of address form must be filed at the college campus precinct.