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TIPS FOR NEW VOTERS IN HAMILTON COUNTY
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On Election Day
How to Vote
REGISTERING TO VOTE
To Vote in Ohio You Must be:
 A United States citizen.
At least 18 years old on the day of the election at which you seek to vote. (Exception: at a primary Election you may vote for candidates but not on issues, if you will be 18 by the General Election)
Registered with an address in Hamilton County at least 30 days before the election.
Where Can I Register to Vote?
Any Motor Vehicle Bureau office.
Any branch of the Hamilton County Public Library.
At governmental social service agencies.
At the Hamilton County Board of Elections, 824 Broadway, downtown.
YOU CAN KEEP YOUR REGISTRATION ACTIVE, BY VOTING AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS.
What Happens After I Register?
The Board of Elections will send you a card that lists:
the address of your voting (polling) place; your precinct; and state senator, state representative and congressional district numbers. KEEP THIS CARD FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Where Do I Vote?
The address is on your voter's card. Can't find your card? Call the: Board of Elections at 632-7000, or visit their website at http://www.hamilton-co.org/BOE/ or call the League of Women Voters at 281-8683.
What If I Move or Change My Name?
A registered voter must report a change (of name/address) to the Board of Elections at least 30 days before a General, Primary, or Special Election. This can be done in person or by mail. Change of name/address forms are at any Motor Vehicle Bureau office, at any branch of the public library, at any public high school or vocational school, at the Board of Elections or to obtain a form by mail, call the Board of Elections at 632-7000 and ask that a form be sent to you.
List your previous and new address or former and new name, SIGN your name and send it to the Hamilton County Board of Elections office. A. If you miss the 30 day cutoff and you have changed your name and/or moved from one precinct to another in your county, you may report the change and vote by going to the Board of Elections during the 28 days immediately prior to the election; or on election day, you may go to the polling place in the precinct in which you now reside, or to the Board of Elections. To find the address of the polling place, call the Board of Elections.
ON ELECTION DAY
POLLS ARE OPEN from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Hamilton County uses the Hart eScan,
an optical/digital scan voting machine.
If you are not familiar with its use, ask a precinct official for help.
Ballots list the names of all candidates for an office under the title of that office; the party designation is printed with each name.
In the General Election, candidates for judgeships, state or local boards of education, and municipal or township offices appear without party designation. (nonpartisan)
On "questions and issues ballots" your choice will usually be either:
YES or NO; FOR or AGAINST.
Polling locations are handicapped accessible. Visually impaired or infirm voters may ask for help.
HOW TO VOTE
(Some polling places have more than one precinct in the same location)
- Go to the precinct listed on the card you received from the Board of
Elections. For example -- Cincinnati 6-C. (Some polling places have more
than one precinct at the same location.)
- You will be asked to provide proof of identity before voting. You may
use a current and valid photo identification card, (for example your
driver's license), military ID, copy of a utility bill, bank statement,
paycheck, government check, or government document showing your name and
current address. (Note: You cannot use the notice the Board of Elections
mailed to you.) If you do not show the required proof of identity, you
may cast a provisional ballot.
- Sign the poll book as directed. You will be given a paper ballot.
- Go to an open voting booth. Using the pen that is provided,
completely fill in the box to the left of your choice on the ballot. For
example:
President
Vote for one
Abraham Lincoln
Historical Party
Julius Caesar
Ancient Party
- Candidates and issues are listed on both the FRONT AND BACK of your
ballot.
- Make sure you read the directions concerning the number of candidates
to vote for in each category. Some offices have "field" races where you
may vote for more than one candidate. (For example: you may vote for up
to nine candidates for Cincinnati City Council.)
- You do not have to vote for every office or every issue for your
ballot to be counted.
- When you finish voting, take your ballot to the eScan machine and
insert it into the ballot feed slot located on the top of the machine.
Wait while your ballot is scanned.
- If your ballot is properly marked the eScan will accept your ballot
and display a waving American flag on the screen next to the slot where
you inserted the ballot. At this point you have completed the voting
process.
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If you have over-voted (voted for too many candidates in a particular
race) or there is a problem with your ballot, the machine will not
accept it.
- An instruction message "Ballot not properly marked" will come up on
the screen and the contest that needs attention will be listed. For
example: "U.S. Representative Contest is Overvoted."
- If more than one contest has been marked incorrectly you will see the
phrase "Next Contest" at the bottom of the screen with an arrow pointing
to a button on the machine. Push the button to see the next contest.
- When finished viewing the screen(s), you may remove your ballot from
the machine, take it to a poll worker and request a new ballot. OR you
may choose to cast your ballot as is by following the instructions on
the screen. You may ask a poll worker for help.
- When your completed ballot has been accepted, the screen will display
a waving American flag and the message will state that your vote has
been recorded.
- Voters with disabilities may use the the Hart Intercivic eSlate electronic voting machine and/or request assistance when voting.
YOU MAY ASK A POLL WORKER FOR HELP AT ANY TIME.
November 2008
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