Civic Engagement

Census

• What is the Census?

  • “The 2020 Census counts every person living in the United States and five U.S. territories” (US Census Bureau, 2020)

    • Mandated by the Constitution, conducted by U.S. Census Bureau 

• Why does it matter?

  • “The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support” (US Census Bureau, 2020)

  • The census determines how funds will be directed across the country

  • The census also determines the number of seats that each state has in the US House of Representatives, and determines how legislative districts are drawn

• When is the next Census?

  • April 1st 2030 is the first day of the next US census

  • You can find the results of the 2020 US census here

Voting

• Voter Registration

  • Who can vote?

    • There are several requirements that must be met in order to register to vote in the US. You must:

      • Be a US Citizen

      • Meet residency requirements (If homeless, there are still options)

      • Be at least 18 years of age

    • Some conditions disqualify you from voting

      • Some felony convictions

      • Some mental disabilities

• How can I register to vote?

  • Online

  • By Mail

  • In person (Many locations across the state)

  • Note: The deadline to register in Ohio is 30 days before an election

• Absentee Voting

  • What is absentee voting?

    • Absentee voting allows you to vote by mail

    • In Ohio, all voters are eligible to absentee vote

  • How do I do it?

    • Complete an absentee ballot application

    • Mail (or return in person) the application to your county board of elections. Here is a list of all the boards of elections in Ohio.

    • Wait to receive a ballot back

    • Complete your ballot and mail (or return in person) it to your county board of elections

  • When do I do it?

    • The deadline to request a ballot in Ohio is 3 days before an election

    • If ballot is mailed, it must be “postmarked by the day before the election in order to be counted” (Ohio Secretary of State, 2021)

• Early Voting

  • What is it?

    • Early voting is a way to vote in person before the actual date of an election

  • How do I do it?

    • In Ohio, early voting begins on October 5, 2021 and continues until the day before the election. 

    • Early voting can be done at your county board of elections (with 2 exceptions)

      • In Lucas County, the address for early voting is the Ohio Means Jobs Building, 1301 Monroe Street, Toledo Ohio 43604

      • In Summit County, the address for early voting is SCBOE Early Vote Center, 500 Grant Street, Akron Ohio 44311

    • Here is a list of all the boards of elections in Ohio.

• In-Person Voting

  • What is it?

    • In-person voting refers to voting at a polling place on election day

  • How do I do it?

    • Election day is November 1, 2021

    • Polling places are open from 6:30 am-7:30 pm

    • This is a directory of all polling locations in Ohio

• Identification needed to vote

  • Identification is required to vote in Ohio

  • This is a list of acceptable and unacceptable forms of ID in Ohio

• 2021 Election

  • This is a list of all of the candidates that will be on the 2021 Franklin County Ballot

  • This is a list of all of the issues that will be on the 2021 Franklin County Ballot