Written by: Jules Patalita
As many of you know, there is a General Election in Ohio on November 3rd. For our September Advocacy blog, I wanted to take time to go over voting accessibility and how to sign up to vote. The United States government has federal laws that protect the voting rights of people with disabilities. We’ll go over those federal protections, different ways to vote, and the deadlines for different types of accessible voting in Ohio for the 2026 General Election.
Federal Protections
There are several federal laws that ensure people with disabilities have full access to voting, with whatever accommodations are needed. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures access to any government services, which includes voting. There are some laws, however, that are specific to protecting voting rights.
- The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was originally signed to end voting practices meant to stop people of color from voting, but these protections also helped many voters with disabilities. The Act stops literacy and other similar tests, ended discrimination based on demographics, and allows a voter to get assistance to vote.
- The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 requires polling locations and registration to be accessible for people with disabilities, and requires polling locations to provide voting aids and accommodations for voters.
- The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ensures that all states have easier options for voter registration, allows other state agencies to register voters, and the use of the federal Voter Registration Form.
- The Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires all polling locations to be physically accessible and for polling staff to be trained on assisting voters with disabilities.
To make a long story short: if you’re an American without a felony that is 18 years or older, and have lived in Ohio at least 30 days, you have the right to vote. Even if you are under guardianship or live in a hospital, you have the right to vote. No matter what disability you may have, you have the right to vote in an accessible polling location and accommodations to make the process accessible. In our Resources section, we’ve included a link to the Ohio County Boards of Elections directory. Use this resource and call your Board of Elections if there are access barriers, poll staff will be required to remove them for you and give you better access to voting.
Accessible Ways to Vote
Now let’s go through some of the ways that you can vote in Ohio. The standard way of voting is to go to your assigned polling location on November 3rd, but there are many other ways for someone to vote. Most of these methods are open to any voters, but they are especially great for voters with disabilities to consider as alternatives.
One method is early in-person voting. Each county has a single polling location that’s open to early voting for the 29 days before the General Election Day. The lines before voting are usually much shorter for early voting, so this can be a good alternative if waiting creates a barrier for you.
Curbside voting is an option specifically designed for Ohioans with disabilities. When going to your polling location (even for early voting), you can have polling staff come outside and bring your voting ballot to your car. While this is a great accommodation for many voters, we have heard many anecdotes about this service not being as accessible as it could be. Many have had to ask caregivers to enter the polling location to request a ballot, call staff when outside, or find a doorbell to alert polling staff. These options limit the independence for some voters. For more information, you should call your local Board of Elections and ask about how curbside voting is handled at your location.
Finally, absentee voting is perhaps the most common accessible voting method. Absentee voting allows you to have a ballot mailed to your home, which eliminates many barriers for some voters, like the need for transport or waiting in line at the poll. For voters with low vision, you can even request an accessible absentee ballot. This is an option in Ohio but may not be available in every state. It is important to know the deadlines for absentee voting. Absentee voting can start as early as 29 days before the General Election (October 6th for the 2026 election), but you must have your absentee application received by the Board of Elections by 8:30 PM the week before General Election Day (October 27th, 2026). Your absentee ballot must also be post-marked and received by the Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on November 3rd, so don’t delay too long before you mail out your vote.
One specific type of absentee voting we want to quickly cover is for people who are hospitalized on Election Day. If you, or your child, are hospitalized, you can obtain a special absentee ballot specifically for these occasions. Emergency absentee ballots can be requested, but only until 3 PM on November 3rd and a ballot will be brought to you by poll workers or a relative. Just like normal absentee ballots, these emergency ones must be returned to the Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on General Election Day.
Timelines and Deadlines to Register to Vote
While Ohio’s General Election itself is November 3rd (these are always held on the first Tuesday of the month), you need to act earlier than this if you want your vote counted. For all voters, the deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 5th, which is also 30 days before the General Election. You can do this online, or at one of the many different applicable public offices; some examples are the BMV, Department of Job and Family Services, Department of Health, Department of Developmental Disabilities, public libraries, and more.
Probably the most important timelines to know for many voters with disabilities are the dates surrounding absentee voting. While military and overseas absentee voting start earlier, voters living within the country can start to vote early or mail in absentee votes starting October 6th. Mail-in absentee voting can be mailed in after this, but all absentee ballots must be received by your Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on November 3rd, General Election Day. We recommend mailing in your ballot far in advance of November 3rd to ensure that it is received and counted. For those voting in-person early, you can do so at the specific early voting location in your county; make sure you look up which polling location is the one open for early voting. This early voting is available on weekdays from October 6th to Monday, November 2nd; with extra days open on Saturday, October 24th; Saturday, October 31st; and Sunday, November 1st.
- Deadline to register to vote (any method): Monday, October 5th
- Deadline to apply for absentee voting: Tuesday, October 27th, and the Board of Election must receive your application by 8:30 PM
- Timeframe for absentee ballots: Tuesday, October 6th until Tuesday, November 3rd at 7:30 PM (ballot must be received by your Board of Elections)
- Timeframe for early in-person voting: Weekdays starting Tuesday, October 6th until Monday, November 2nd, including Saturdays October 24th and 31st, and Sunday, November 1st
- Voting in-person on General Election Day: Tuesday, November 3rd, from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM
Please remember that these dates are for Ohio’s General Election in 2026. If you live in a different state, or are reading this afterwards, the dates for your next election are likely different.
Conclusion
Ohio’s Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026. Voting is a right and a responsibility for all Americans, with or without disabilities. Federal laws have protected the voting rights of the disability community for decades, with new laws each decade only strengthening those rights. Polling locations have a legal responsibility to be accessible to you, and you have the right to complain if they aren’t. We hope that this month’s blog was helpful for you. If you’re interested in learning more about the candidates and issues that are being voted on this November, we encourage you to attend our Candidates Forum on Monday, September 14th, from 5:30-7:30 PM. This is being held at the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ Training Room at 1154 Larc Lane, Toledo, OH 43614.
For more information, please see visit https://abilitycenter.org/event/2026-voters-forum/
Follow The Ability Center on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X to stay connected with future highlights, community initiatives, and advocacy efforts throughout the year.
Resources
Click here to see the Ohio 2026 voting schedule
Click here to find your polling location for the 2026 Election
Click here to see the early voting locations in Ohio
Click here to see Ohio’s webpage on voting for people with disabilities
Click here to see frequently asked questions about voting
Click here to apply for an absentee ballot
Click here to see the Ohio County Boards of Elections Directory
Click here to contact Ohio’s Secretary of State
Click here to see Disability Rights Ohio’s resources on voting
