Amanda Crouse
News Editor
Voters across the country are casting their early ballots for the 2027 midterm elections. Read on to learn more about Ohio’s midterms before Election Day on Nov. 3.
How, when and where to vote
On Election Day, most polling locations will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Ohio voters can vote early at select locations or by mailing in an absentee ballot. Voters registered in Wayne County can cast their early ballots at the Wayne County Board of Elections (visit waynecountyoh.gov for early polling hours). Those voting on Election Day must go to their assigned polling locations.
Oct. 27 is the last day to submit a request for an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be received by their associated county’s Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Disabled voters who plan to send their ballot to a drop-box location can have a family member or caretaker deposit their ballot for them.
Early voting started on Oct. 6. Polling locations will close on Sunday, Oct. 25, but will be reopened from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.
What’s on the ballot?
Ohioans will be voting to fill one U.S. Senate seat and 15 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Below are the state offices included on the ballot:
- Governor
- Attorney General
- Secretary of State
- Treasurer
- Auditor
In addition to the positions above, voters will elect candidates to fill two vacant Justice seats on the Ohio Supreme Court. To learn more about the candidates running for each position, visit ballotpedia.org/Ohio_elections,_2026.
Most Ohio voting districts will be electing to fill local political positions as well. In Wooster, voters will elect the Judge of the Court of Appeals and the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Probate and Juvenile Division), both within the 9th judicial district. The positions of County Commissioner and County Auditor will also be included on the ballot for most Wooster voters registered in Wayne County.
Issue 3 is the only statewide issue on the ballot this election. Those in favor of Issue 3 (voting “Yes”) are voting for Ohio to require voters to present photo I.D. to participate in elections. Those against the issue (voting “No”) are voting to reject this requirement for the coming term. If approved, the issue would become an amendment to Article V of the Ohio Constitution.
Those registered in Wayne County will also be voting on the renewal of a tax levy for the Wayne County Joint Vocational School District. A majority of “Yes” votes on the proposal means the county will continue to impose a tax to fund permanent improvements to the school district. To read more about the proposed tax levy renewal, visit ohiosos.gov.
Other Ohio voting districts will include similar proposals on their ballots. Those registered to vote in an Ohio district outside Wayne County can check which local initiatives are on their ballot by visiting their Board of Elections website and requesting a sample ballot online.
