NEW CITIZENS GUIDE
TO VOTING IN OHIO

League of Women Voters® of Toledo-Lucas County

lwvtoledo-lucascounty.org

lwv_tlc@yahoo.com

New Citizens Guide 2022
CLICK PURPLE BUTTON TO PRINT A COPY OF THIS GUIDE 

CONGRATULATIONS NEW CITIZENS

The League of Women Voters® of Toledo-Lucas County (LWV-TLC) has prepared the enclosed voter information for you.  It includes:

• Contact information for your county’s Board of Elections
• Information regarding the elections
• Helpful tips on contacting office holders
• Ohio’s four-year election cycle
• Information about the League of Women Voters

For more information, please visit the web.  Helpful sites include:

Ohio’s Secretary of State’s site                                voteohio.gov

National League of Women Voter’s site                lwv.org

Ohio League of Women Voter’s site                       lwvohio.org

Online Voter Registration & Voter Information    voteohio.gov

Register (or change address) online:    https://olvr.sos.state.oh.us/

For those living in Lucas County, we urge you to visit our local League www.lwvtoledo-lucascounty.org.  THEY REPRESENT YOU is a Directory of Public Officials.  It includes contact information for all elected public officials in the county, as well as state and national elected officials.

We hope you find this information useful.

ELECTION INFORMATION

Who can Vote?  You can, now that you are a citizen and if you are at least 18 years old on or before the General Election and have registered 30 days before an election.

Why should I vote?  Your vote counts.  Voting is one of the special privileges offered in a democracy.  Only you can exercise your vote.  Voting is an important way to make your thoughts and desires known about local, state, and national issues.

Where do I go to register?  You can register to vote (or update your address or name) at your county Board of Elections office, public high schools, public libraries, Bureau of Motor Vehicles and by mail.  Forms must be postmarked 30 days before an election or taken to the County Board of Elections.  Effective 2017 you can register online at www.voteohio.gov

Where do I go to vote?  Contact the Board of Elections in your county to find out the address for your polling place.  Consider voting an absentee ballot if you expect to be away from the county on Election Day, or you want to do early voting.  Go to voteohio.gov to check for polling places.

Who is running for election and what issues are on the ballot?  Check newspapers, local political and civic organization, Election Board web sites and candidate literature to find out who is running.  Your local library may have many of these resources available free of charge.  For local offices, contact the League of Women Voters in your area or the Board of Elections in your County.  Check VOTE411.org

VOTERS’ BILL OF RIGHTS

• If you show up at your polling place, you must be allowed to vote there, whether or not your name is on the list of voters.  Just ask for a provisional ballot.
• Equal treatment regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender or disability.
• Privacy.  You can’t be forced to show how you voted.
• Assistance from poll workers if you need it

If you have a disability, you have a right to have access to a voting device you can use.  

HOW TO GET YOUR VOICE HEARD

Voting is a very important way to participate in the democratic process, but it’s not the only way.  Expressing your opinion about current issues and legislative initiatives to public officials can be very effective.

Office holders in every level of government (city, county, state and national) are very sensitive to the views of their constituents.  When you feel strongly about an issue, speak up.

Search the Internet or ask for help from the reference desk at your library to locate contact information for the public officials you wish to influence.  Lucas County residents can pick up the League of Women Voters® of Toledo-Lucas County’s THEY REPRESENT YOU (A Directory of Public Officials) at their branch library or by going to www.lwvtoledo-lucascounty.org

Remember that the amount of mail or number of telephone calls on a particular bill or issue frequently determines the office holder’s position.

Here are some tips on placing telephone calls and writing letters or emailing messages:

• Be brief and to the point:  discuss only one issue at a time.
• Be courteous, identify yourself, and give your address.
• Write to say you approve of an action of the official.  You’ll be remembered warmly for your note of appreciation.
• If the office holder is not available when you telephone, be sure to talk to the administrative assistant.  It can be very effective.
• Customize a form letter if you have time, but if not, send it anyway, volume and timing are important.
• Don’t hesitate to call or write if you have a question or problem dealing with procedures of government departments.  Public officials can often help cut through red tape or give advice that will save you time.
• Be specific.  Make certain your position is clear.  If you are contacting an office holder about legislation, for instance, cite the bill number.  Cite specific issues and legislation whenever you can.