COLUMBUS, Ohio — Election Day has arrived.
Ohioans voting in the November 7 general election will decide on two statewide issues: the right to abortion access and the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Live updates on Election Day:
7:30 p.m. — Polls across Ohio are now closed. Those remaining in line will still be able to cast their ballot. We'll be bringing you live election results all night long on 10TV.com, the 10TV News app, YouTube and every free 10TV+ streaming platform, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV.
6 p.m. — Ohioans have an hour and a half to cast their votes.
5 p.m. — Polls are beginning to get crowded as many stop by on their way home from work. There is still two and a half hours until the polls officially close. Many of those leaving Whetstone Community Center, a polling location in Clintonville, told 10TV's Carly D'Eon that the wait time has not been too bad, saying it took between 10 and 30 minutes to cast their ballot.
2 p.m. — There's still five and a half hours until the polls officially close. REMINDER: Voters who are in line at 7:30 p.m., will still be able to cast their vote.
11 a.m. — 10TV's Kevin Landers was out at one of the busiest poll locations in Clintonville, Whetstone Community Center, just before noon. Landers reported that the lines have been this long since 6:30 a.m.
9:20 a.m. — Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther casts his ballot. Ginther is running for a third term and is being challenged by Joe Motil and several write-in candidates.
9:05 a.m. — Polling issue reporterd at Worthington Killbourne High School. 10TV received a claim of people being turned away at the polling location. Officials at the Franklin County Board of Elections said that a poll worker misread a ballot style earlier in the morning, which caused some confusion. A few voters did not want to wait to have it sorted out but were given the option to come back later to cast their ballot. Since then, voting has continued without any issues here.
6:30 a.m. — Polls in Ohio are now open and will close at 7:30 p.m.
5 a.m. — Election Day forecast: Skies will be partly cloudy, and temperatures will be back in the 60s. The afternoon will be a bit sunnier than the morning and also a bit windier. Winds turn from the south to the north this evening and wind gusts will be 10-15 mph.
Ohio is the latest flashpoint in the nation’s ongoing battle over abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a constitutional right to the procedure last year.
Voters on Tuesday are deciding whether to pass a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing an individual right to abortion and other forms of reproductive healthcare, including fertility treatments.
Ohio is the only state to consider a statewide abortion-rights question this year, so advocates on both sides of the issue are watching the outcome for signs of voter sentiment heading into 2024 — when abortion-rights supporters are planning to put measures on the ballot in several other states.
The future of recreational marijuana legalization in Ohio is in the balance.
Issue 2 on Tuesday's ballot would allow adults 21 and over to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and to grow plants at home. A 10% tax would be imposed on purchases, with proceeds going to administrative costs, addiction treatment, municipalities with dispensaries, and social equity and jobs programs.
The Coalition to Regulate Cannabis like Alcohol began its push for legalizing adult use in 2022. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and some top business and manufacturing organizations oppose the measure, citing traffic and workplace safety concerns.
Below is a quick guide for Ohio voters on the November 7 general election:
WHERE CAN I GET ELECTION RESULTS?
WBNS-10TV will share election results after the polls close, which you can check live on 10TV News, 10TV+ and at 10TV.com/elections. Be sure to follow 10TV on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for complete coverage.
Receive breaking news alerts on Election Day via the free 10TV mobile app.
WHEN DO POLLS IN OHIO OPEN & CLOSE?
Polls in Ohio on Election Day are open between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Where is my polling place?
Voters can find their polling location here: ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location/
What time will Ohio election results come in?
Expect to see the first results shortly after 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots are the first votes counted, according to the Secretary of State's office.
WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT?
Ohio voters will find two statewide issues on their ballot this election:
- State Issue 1, the right to make reproductive decisions including abortion initiative
- State Issue 2, the marijuana legalization initiative
The state’s largest school district is asking voters to support a nearly $100 million levy. Columbus taxpayers would pay about $270 per $100,000 of taxable property value each year.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther is running for a third term and is being challenged by Joe Motil and several write-in candidates.
Voters can get a sample ballot to view all local races here: ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/sample-ballot/
OHIO VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS
Valid types of photo identification include:
- Ohio driver's license
- State of Ohio ID card
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
- US passport
- US passport card
- US military ID card
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
All photo IDs must have an expiration date that has not passed.
What if you forget your ID on Election Day? You will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. For that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than four days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification.
Ohio law prohibits acceptance of the following forms of ID:
- Out-of-state driver’s license or photo ID
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- Insurance card
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Other government document
- Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections