Get ready to vote

NORWALK — Nearly one month remains until the November general election, but Huron County voters who need to register to vote or address their registration status have less than a week to do so. The deadline for Huron County residents to register to vote or update their voter registration ahead of the Nov. 4 general election is next Monday, Oct. 6. The Huron County Board of Elections will remain open until 9 p.m. that day. Election officials are urging all eligible voters to confirm their status before heading to the polls. Who needs to register or update? Residents must register or update their registration if they: • Have never registered to vote in Ohio • Recently moved without updating their address with the Huron County Board of Elections • Changed their legal name without reporting it to the board Ohio requires voters to be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of their county for at least 30 days prior to voting. Where to register or update registration Huron County residents can register or update their voter information at these locations: • Online at voteohio.gov • Huron County Board of Elections — 180 Milan Ave., Suite 4, Norwalk, OH 44857 • Huron County Treasurer's Office — 12 E. Main St., Norwalk, OH 44857 • Huron County Job & Family Services — 185 Shady Lane Dr., Norwalk, OH 44857 • Norwalk BMV Deputy Registrar — 92 Benedict Ave., Norwalk, OH 44857 • Public libraries in Huron County (forms available) • Public high schools and vocational schools (forms available) Key election dates October • Oct. 6: Deadline to register or update voter registration (Huron County Board of Elections office open until 9 p.m.) • Oct. 7: Absentee voting by mail begins (applications open, ballots mailed) • Oct. 7: Early in-person voting begins at the Huron County Board of Elections • Oct. 28: Absentee ballot applications due to the county elections board by 8:30 p.m. November • Nov. 3: Last day to postmark absentee ballots sent by mail. • Nov. 4: Election Day — polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots not mailed must be delivered in person to the Huron County Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. Early in-person voting hours Voters can cast ballots early at the Huron County Board of Elections Office on these dates: • Oct. 7-10: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Oct. 13-17: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Oct. 20-24: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Oct. 27: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. • Oct. 28: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. • Oct. 29-31: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. • Nov. 1: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Nov. 2: 1-5 p.m. What to bring To vote in-person (early or on Election Day), voters must bring one valid, unexpired photo ID. Examples are: • Ohio driver's license • Ohio state ID card • Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV • U.S. passport or passport card • U.S. military ID card • Ohio National Guard ID card • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card The ID must be current — not expired — include a photograph, and display a name that substantially matches the voter registration record. Exceptions: Voters with a religious objection to being photographed may complete an Affidavit of Religious Objection and vote provisionally. Voters applying for or returning an absentee ballot must provide: • Ohio driver's license or state ID number, or • Last four digits of Social Security number, or • A copy (front and back) of an acceptable photo ID If ID information is missing or inconsistent, voters will be notified with a Form 11-S "cure notice" and may fix the issue within four days after Election Day. Other notes Voters who fail to register or update their information by the Oct. 6 deadline will be required to vote provisionally. The Huron County Board of Elections maintains a secure ballot drop box at 180 Milan Ave., Norwalk, for absentee applications and ballots. Registration status, polling place and sample ballots can be checked at: lookup.boe.ohio.gov/huron