About this Guide 

The Center for the Study of American Democracy (CSAD) is Kenyon's nonpartisan public affairs institution. We promote student participation in democracy and provide nonpartisan services to educate voters about the process, issues, and candidates. We do not endorse or support any candidate or party.

Our voter guide is intended as a service to the community to spread awareness of the importance of local and state-level offices and issues and to help inform voters about their choices in a fair, neutral, and accurate way, with a focus on the candidates’ qualifications and stances that pertain to the office sought. The CSAD student associates research and write the guide, under the supervision of CSAD’s associate director, using public sources such as candidates’ websites, LinkedIn posts, Knox News reporting, and our own outreach to candidates.

Steps to Voting

What you need to know for the March 19, 2024 primaries.

  • 1.Review key dates and deadlines.

  • 2.Understand Ohio's ID requirements and ways to vote.

  • 3.Preview the ballot and read about the candidates.

  • 4.Review these frequently asked questions.

Key Dates for the the 2024 Election

  • February 21.  First day of in-person voting at the board of elections.
  • March 12.   If you need to vote by mail, due to Ohio ID requirements, this is your absolute deadline for getting your absentee-ballot request to the county board of elections. (More info below in the FAQs.)
  • March 17.  Last day of in-person voting at the board of elections.
  • March 18, before 4 pm. Postmark your absentee ballot at the Gambier post office.
  • March 19. Election day. Polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Hand-deliver an absentee ballot to the board of elections by 7:30 p.m.

Ways to Vote 

In-Person Voting

Ohio ID Requirements for In-person voting
Ohio now requires an unexpired U.S. passport or an ID issued by the state of Ohio or a military or veteran’s ID. Student ID’s are not acceptable.

  • In-person early voting at the Board of Elections Office (104 E. Sugar St., Mount Vernon).  Early voting begins Wednesday, February 21 and ends Sunday March 17. Hours and weekends for voting increase as we get closer to election day, so see the schedule here 
  • Election Day. Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Gambier polls are at the Community Center on Meadow Lane, open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Voting By Mail with and Absentee Ballot by March 12

Identification: If you do not have the required ID or passport, and are a registered Ohio voter, you can vote with an “absentee ballot” (that is, by mail). The absentee ballot uses the last digits of your social security number as identification.

Request an absentee ballot: In Ohio, you must request the absentee ballot by filling out and printing this application, then mailing or delivering it to the Board of Elections Office (104 E. Sugar St., Mount Vernon OH 43050) to arrive by March 12.  Buy a postage stamp at the Gambier post office (before 4 pm on March 11).

Who is on the Ballot?

Kenyon's CSAD associates have provided an overview of the candidates, their qualifications and stances that pertain to the office sought. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the 2024 Ohio primary election.

Ohio registered voters can choose to vote either a Republican or a Democrat ballot in the March 19 primary.

Party affiliation may merely mean you wanted to vote in that party’s primary this year. It probably means you will get polling calls and campaign mail from that party in November. Party affiliation is easy to change for future elections, but students should be aware that by voting a party’s ballot in a primary, they will be listed as affiliated with that party in the voting rolls, which are public records. 

In-person voting in Ohio now requires an unexpired U.S. passport or an ID issued by the state of Ohio or a military or veteran’s ID. Student ID’s are not acceptable.

If you do not have the required ID or passport, and are a registered Ohio voter, you can vote with an “absentee ballot” (that is, by mail).  The absentee ballot uses the last digits of your social security number as identification. In Ohio, you must request the absentee ballot by filling out and printing this application, then mailing or delivering it to the Board of Elections Office (104 E. Sugar St., Mount Vernon OH 43050) to arrive by March 12.  Buy a postage stamp at the Gambier post office (before 4 pm on March 11).

If you have the required ID, you have additional choices:

In-person early voting at the Board of Elections Office (104 E. Sugar St., Mount Vernon). Early voting begins Wednesday, February 21 and ends Sunday March 17. Hours and weekends for voting increase as we get closer to election day, so see the schedule here (scroll down).

Election Day. Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Gambier polls are at the Community Center on Meadow Lane, open 6:30 AM-7:30 PM.