Early Voting for May 5th Primary/Special Election Begins April 7

Early Voting for May 5th Primary/Special Election Begins April 7, 2026

(Columbus) Absentee voting, both in-person and by mail, begins April 7, 2026 for the May 5, 2026 Primary/Special Election. As of today, over 3,500 absentee ballots have been requested in Franklin County. These absentee ballots will be delivered to the post office tomorrow to coincide with the first day of early voting. Completed absentee ballots by mail must be returned to the Franklin County Board of Elections no later than 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5th. Due to SB 293, your mailed absentee ballot MUST be returned to the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. Election night on May 5th, OR it will NOT be counted. The last day to request a ballot by mail is Tuesday, April 28th.  

All 298 Franklin County voting locations will be open May 5th for this Primary election, voters will decide who makes the ballot for the 2026 General Election in these races: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Ohio Attorney General, State Auditor, Ohio Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Ohio Justices of the Supreme Court, United States Senator, Representative to Congress, State Senate, State Representative, State Central Committee, Appellate Judge,, Common Pleas Judge (General, Probate, and Domestic Divisions), County Commissioner, County Auditor, County Libertarian & Republican Central Committee, and other local charter amendments, resolutions, options, and tax levies.

Below are the in-person voting hours that Franklin County registered voters can vote at 1700 Morse Road, Columbus:

• Weekdays, April 7th through April 24th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, April 27th from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 28th from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. -Last Day to Request Absentee Ballots
• Wednesday, April 29th through Friday, May 1st from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 2nd from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 3rd from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Registered voters can view their sample ballot by visiting our website at http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov. Absentee applications are available online and at public libraries or by calling the Board of Elections at (614) 525-3470.

Election Day is Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.