Ohio's fall election is fast-approaching, with the pandemic still in full swing. Election Day is scheduled for November 3, and the U.S. presidential race, all 16 Ohio congressional seats and many other state races will be on the ballot.

During the primaries, the coronavirus outbreak pushed Ohio to postpone its spring election and switch to almost entirely absentee voting. This time around, county boards of elections have gotten more money and support to prepare, but expect another election heavily dependent on voting by mail.

Below, WOSU put together a guide to help you navigate Ohio’s 2020 election, including information on how to vote, and a rundown of what you can expect on your ballot. This guide will be updated with new information throughout the year.

Check out WOSU's visual guide to voting in the 2020 election.

Here’s some key dates to know for the fall election:

General election voter registration deadline: Oct. 5, 2020

Oct. 5, 2020 Early voting and mail-in voting begins: Oct. 6, 2020

Oct. 6, 2020 Deadline to request absentee ballot: Oct. 31, 2020

Oct. 31, 2020 Early voting and mail-in voting ends: Nov. 2, 2020

Nov. 2, 2020 General election: Nov. 3, 2020

Voter Information

How Do I Register To Vote?

Make sure you’re registered to vote – or have updated your voter information – no later than 30 days before an election. The deadline to register for Ohio’s November election is Oct. 5, 2020.

For the general election, you can register to vote online through the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. To do so, you must provide your name, date of birth, address, driver’s license or Ohio ID card number, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Alternatively, you can print out this paper form, fill it out and deliver it to your county board of elections. Find where that's located here.

Absentee Voting

Many Ohioans will choose to cast their vote via absentee ballots this fall. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 31 at 12 p.m.

You can get an absentee ballot in the following ways:

Go online and print your own absentee ballot request form. Fill out the required information by hand on a blank sheet of paper. Call your local board of elections and ask them to send you a form. Or, if you're one of 8 million Ohioans already registered to vote, you may receive an absentee ballot request form in the mail from the Ohio Secretary of State's Office.

Whichever method you choose, you have to fill out and send the completed request form to your local board of elections, then wait for the board to mail back a ballot. Fill that ballot out and mail it back to your board of elections.

If you're concerned about filling out your absentee ballot application correctly, put down your phone number or email address on the form. That way, if the county board of elections finds any problem with your application, they're required to contact you through one of those means so it can be fixed.

You can track the status of your application and application here.

To vote by mail, which is a secure and popular method of voting, your ballot must be postmarked by November 2, the day before the election. You also must attach your own postage.

Please note: You should mail your ballot as soon as possible. That back-and-forth could mean four trips through the mail, and the U.S. Postal Service estimates it may take between 2-5 days to deliver each way. This spring election saw even longer delays, and many Ohioans had their votes invalidated because they arrived late.

Voting rights groups suggest mailing your ballot at least a week before Election Day. Your ballots can be received up to 10 days after the election to be counted.

Alternatively, you can drop off your absentee ballot in person at your county board of elections anytime before November 3 at 7:30 p.m. Each of Ohio's 88 election boards has a secure drop box for turning in ballots and ballot requests.

In-Person Voting

This fall, all Ohio voters can again cast their ballot the old fashioned way, in person.

The first opportunity is at an early voting center, beginning October 6. The schedule for early voting is set by the Secretary of State, and in every county but Lucas, Miami and Summit, early voting happens at the county board elections.

In the first two weeks, ealy voters can vote at their county board weekdays between 8 a.m.-5 p.m., but there is no early voting over the weekend those weeks. In the final two weeks leading up to Election Day, hours extend later during the week, and the boards open for limited hours on the weekends.

The final day to vote early in person is Monday, Nov. 2. But keep in mind, voting wraps up early at 2 p.m.

Voting on Election Day will happen at polling locations based on where voters live. With COVID-19 looming, it’s possible some polling locations could move from where you're accustomed. The Secretary of State’s Office has a handy tool for looking up where voters are supposed to cast their ballot.

One big concern among election officials and voting rights advocates is a shortage of poll workers. A large contingent of retirees usually pitch in on Election Day, but COVID-19 makes that risky.

County boards and the Secretary of State are urging people to sign on, and some professional groups are weighing in, too. The Ohio Supreme Court is offering continuing legal education credit for lawyer who serve as poll workers.

Do I Need Voter ID?

Yes, but not necessarily a picture ID. First off, check here to make sure you're registered to vote and your information is up-to-date.

To get an absentee ballot or cast your vote in person, Ohio law requires some form of acceptable identification, which includes:

An unexpired Ohio driver’s license or state ID card with present or former address, as long as your present residential address is in the official list of registered voters for that precinct

A military ID

A photo ID issued by the United States government or the State of Ohio, that contains your name and current address, and that has not passed its expiration

An original or copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other document with your name and present address ("current" means in the last 12 months).

Check the entire list of acceptable IDs here.

If you've moved or changed your name, but didn't update your voter registration by the deadline, you can still vote using a provisional ballot.

What Am I Voting On?

Below is a rundown of some of the major races you'll see on Ohio's ballot this November, from the presidential race on down.

Find your sample ballot here.

The President

At the top of the ticket is the U.S. presidential race between former Vice President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic candidate, and incumbent President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate.

Trump's running mate remains Vice President Mike Pence.

Joe Biden announced on August 11 that his running mate would be Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who would be the first African American, and only the third woman, nominated as vice president. Harris herself ran for president last year, before dropping out and endorsing Biden.

For independent candidates for president and vice president, the deadline for filing a signature petition was August 5 at 4 p.m. The Ohio Secretary of State's Office announced on August 21 that several candidates qualified for the Ohio ballot.

Jo Jorgensen will appear on the ballot as the presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party, with running mate Spike Cohen.

Howie Hawkins and Angela Walker will also appear on the ballot as independent candidates for president and vice president.

Rapper Kanye West did not qualify as a presidential candidate in Ohio, due to problems with his nominating petition, although he will appear on the ballot in several other states.

U.S. House

The presidency isn't the only federal-level election happening this year. All 16 of Ohio's congressional seats are also up for grabs in 2020.

Currently the delegation is occupied by 12 Republicans and four Democrats, and although Ohio's legislature approved a plan to redraw the Congressional map, that won't impact any election until 2022.

Here's a rundown of the candidates in each of Ohio's districts.

1st District

2nd District

3rd District

4th District

5th District

6th District

7th District

8th District

9th District

10th District

11th District

12th District

13th District

14th District

15th District

16th District

Ohio Supreme Court

There won't be many statewide votes this fall, with the exception of two Ohio Supreme Court seats.

Republicans Judith French and Sharon Kennedy are both seeking re-election to another six-year term on the state's highest court. Currently, five of the court's seven judges are Republicans.

French faces a Democratic challenger in Jennifer Bruner, a former Ohio Secretary of State and current judge on Ohio's 10th District Court of Appeals.

Kennedy will face Democrat John P. O'Donnell, currently a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

What Do You Want To Hear In 2020?

Now WOSU wants to hear from you.

Maybe you’ve already made your decision on who you're supporting in this year's elections, but many people in Ohio remain undecided. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican or somewhere in the middle, WOSU wants your input: What is the biggest issue on your mind in 2020, and why does it matter to you?

Submit your response to that question below, and WOSU may get in touch for a future story.

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Nick Evans contributed to this article.