Politics

Your voter guide to Ohio's May 2026 primary

91.7 WVXU | By Jennifer Merritt, WVXU

Published April 6, 2026 at 4:45 AM EDT

A voter in Hamilton County places their ballot in a ballot box next to a basket of "I Voted" stickers.

Tuesday, April 7, is the start of early voting in Ohio's May 5 primary. On the ballot are party-specific candidates for a number of roles, from governor and U.S. senator to county commissioners. All will set the stage for who you'll see on the ballot in November's election.

Here is everything you need to know to vote, whether you plan to do so in person or by mail. You can check if you are registered on the Ohio Secretary of State's website, and if you're not, you can get registered on the same site. Registration for the May primary closes Monday, April 6, but registering now means you'll be set for November's general election.

Early in-person voting begins April 7 and includes the Saturday and Sunday before Election Day, Tuesday, May 5. Early voting hours vary, so be sure to check with your local board of elections before heading out the door.

Of note for voters in Hamilton County: You may see new polling locations and/or congressional districts. The county's board of elections has consolidated some precincts since the last election, and a new congressional map is in place (at least through 2030). The board sent postcards with updated information to those affected by the change.

Below are links to our coverage of the candidates, in alphabetical order. This list will be updated with state-level candidates as those interviews become available. Until then, we linked to each candidate's campaign website.