Early voting for the May 5, 2026 primary in Franklin County runs from Tuesday, April 7 through Sunday, May 3 at the Franklin County Board of Elections, 1700 Morse Road in Columbus. Franklin County early voting hours start at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays for the first three weeks, then stretch as late as 8:30 p.m. during the final week before Election Day. The center is closed Monday, May 4, so Sunday, May 3 is the last chance to vote early in person.
Full Early Voting Schedule for the May 5, 2026 Primary
- April 7–24 (weekdays only): 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26: Closed.
- Monday, April 27: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 28: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (also the last day to submit an absentee ballot application).
- Wednesday, April 29 through Friday, May 1: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 2: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday, May 3: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (final day of early in-person voting).
- Monday, May 4: Closed so staff can prepare for Election Day.
The schedule follows the statewide calendar set by the Ohio Secretary of State, and Franklin County mirrors it exactly. Future elections tend to follow a similar pattern, but confirm with the Board of Elections before heading out.
Where to Vote Early in Franklin County
Every early voter in the county goes to the same place: the Franklin County Board of Elections at 1700 Morse Road, Columbus, Ohio 43229.1Franklin County Board of Elections. Absentee and Early Voting Parking on site is free.
Election Day works differently. On Tuesday, May 5, you vote at your assigned neighborhood precinct, not at Morse Road. Your polling location appears on your voter registration confirmation and can be looked up on the Board of Elections website.
What to Bring: Acceptable Photo ID
Ohio requires an unexpired photo ID to receive a standard ballot. Any of the following works, as long as it shows your name and your photograph:2Ohio Secretary of State. Voter ID Requirements
- Ohio driver’s license
- Ohio state ID card
- Interim documentation from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. military ID card
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
If you don’t have any of these, you can get a free Ohio state ID card from any BMV office, as long as you are at least 17 and don’t already hold a valid driver’s license.
What Happens If You Don’t Have Photo ID
You won’t be sent home. You can cast a provisional ballot, but you then have to return to the Board of Elections within four days after Election Day with valid photo ID. Miss that deadline and the board rejects the ballot.3Ohio Secretary of State. Mandatory Step-by-Step Process for Examining Provisional Ballots
One narrow exception exists for voters with a sincere religious objection to being photographed. You can fill out Form 12-O either at the voting center or at the Board of Elections within four days after the election, providing the last four digits of your Social Security number. If BMV records show you already hold an unexpired photo ID, the affidavit is treated as invalid and the ballot won’t count.3Ohio Secretary of State. Mandatory Step-by-Step Process for Examining Provisional Ballots
If You’re Still in Line When the Center Closes
Stay put. Anyone already in line at closing time is still allowed to vote, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.4Ohio Secretary of State. Voter Registration, Absentee Voting and Election Day Information If the 5:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. cutoff passes while you’re waiting, don’t leave.
Dropping Off an Absentee Ballot
A secure drop box sits outside the Board of Elections at 1700 Morse Road and is accessible 24 hours a day. You can use it to return a completed absentee ballot, a voter registration form, or an absentee ballot application.1Franklin County Board of Elections. Absentee and Early Voting The hard deadline is 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots that arrive even a minute later are not counted, no matter when they were mailed. Delivering to the drop box in person is safer than relying on the mail if you’re close to the deadline.
Already requested an absentee ballot but want to vote in person at the early voting center instead? You can, but you’ll have to cast a provisional ballot rather than a standard one. Bringing the unvoted absentee ballot with you lets election workers void it on the spot.4Ohio Secretary of State. Voter Registration, Absentee Voting and Election Day Information
Register First If You Haven’t Already
You must be registered at least 30 days before the election. For the May 5 primary, that cutoff falls on Sunday, April 5, which in practice means registering by Friday, April 3, since county offices are typically closed over the weekend. You can register online through the Ohio Secretary of State’s portal or mail a paper form to the Franklin County Board of Elections.
To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, and a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election. You also need to live in the county and precinct where you plan to vote.5Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3503.01 – Qualifications of an Elector