10/20/2022
Advocacy Update: Election Day is Approaching—and Know What’s in Store for the Rest of 2022
Early voting began last week for the upcoming general election on Tuesday, November 8. Many important races will feature on your Ohio ballot this year, including decisions for U.S. Senate, Congress, state House and Senate and Ohio Supreme Court. Additionally, Ohioans will elect candidates for the offices of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.
You have 3 ways to vote:
1. Early In-Person Voting:
You may vote early in-person at your county board of elections during the following hours:
- October 17-21: 8am-5pm
- October 24-28: 8am-5pm
- October 29: 8am-4pm
- October 31: 8am-7pm
- November 1-4: 8am-7pm
- November 5: 8am-4pm
- November 6: 1-5pm
- November 7: 8am-2pm
To look up your early voting location, please visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.
2. By Mail
To request an absentee ballot to vote by mail, follow the options outlined by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 3 days before the election. Your completed absentee ballot must be postmarked by the day before the election in order to be counted. You can also choose to return your completed absentee ballot in-person to your county board of elections before the polls close at 7:30pm on Election Day.
3. In-Person Voting on Election Day
Cast your ballot in-person on Election Day (Tuesday, November 8) between the hours of 6:30am and 7:30pm. Find your designated polling place online or call your county board of elections.
Please note that the district maps for U.S. Congress, and Ohio state Senate and House have recently changed. Confirm your districts, view your sample ballot, and find more information online at the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, or contact your local board of elections.
After the Election – What’s Next?
Following the election, OSMA will communicate with members regarding the results, and about the happenings at the Statehouse for the remainder of the year. The culmination of the general election will signal the start of Ohio’s 2022 lame duck legislative session. With a new general assembly set to begin in January, elected officials returning to Columbus for session will be eager to advance legislation before the year’s end. Any introduced legislation not passed by the end of December must start back at the beginning of the legislative process next year, so it will be a race to see what bills will be passed before time runs out, and Statehouse activity at this time can be particularly unpredictable and fast-paced.
OSMA’s Advocacy Team will strive to keep members informed about issues that arise during the lame duck session and as we begin the 2023 year. The 135th General Assembly will convene for its first sessions in January. It is expected that some of the legislative proposals that do not make it all the way through the process this year will be reintroduced. Please stay tuned for updates!