Today is Election Day across the United States, and here in Ohio, voters will be electing a number of important state and local officials who will help to shape the direction of our state for the next several years. In addition, a number of important ballot issues will appear statewide and locally.

Among the state offices and issues up for election this year are:

• Governor and Lt. Governor

• Secretary of State

• Attorney General

• Auditor of State

• Treasurer of State

• Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court

• Two Associate Justices of the Ohio Supreme Court

• All 99 Members of the Ohio House of Representatives

• 17 Members of the Ohio Senate (those seats in odd numbered districts)

• Judges of the Ohio Court of Appeals

• Members of the Ohio State Board of Education (Districts 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10)

• State Issues 1 & 2

In addition to these important state offices, voters will also elect 15 members of Congress and a new U.S. Senator, who will succeed the retiring Senator Rob Portman, who has served in the Senate since 2011.

Polls will be open today from 6:30am until 7:30 pm. If you are in line to vote when the polls close, you will still be permitted to wait and cast your ballot. Ohio law requires everyone who votes to already be registered, and to have an ID when you arrive at the polls. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• A Valid Ohio Drivers License or State ID (not expired)

• A Military ID

• One of the following current (within the last 12 months) documents that shows your name and current address

  • utility bill

  • bank statement

  • government check

  • paycheck

  • other government document (other than a notice of voter registration mailed by the board of elections)

If you are unsure where your local polling location is, visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s website and select your county to learn more about where you cast your ballot in your local community.