Election protection hotline gears up to serve Ohio voters

By Nadia Ramlagan

Ohio voters have an election protection hotline to use when voting in the upcoming November midterm.

Voters can call 866-OUR-VOTE for a free, nonpartisan hotline staffed by trained volunteers who can answer questions and solve in-the-moment problems.

Elisabeth Warner, communications director for the League of Women Voters of Ohio, said specialists can help you figure out where your polling place is, clarify early voting hours and tell you what you need to know about absentee ballots.

"Or if they see that the line seems kind of long, they might call the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline to report that the line seems long and that it feels like that might be a problem for voters," Warner noted.

The hotline operates from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. If calls are made during off hours, Warner added you can leave a voicemail and your call will be returned as quickly as possible. Early voting in the state is available until Nov. 1.

Warner pointed out states are anticipating more engagement than usual with this year’s midterms. More voters are expected to mail in ballots, head to early voting centers and cast in-person votes on Election Day, which is Nov. 3.

"With all those extra voters, that's more voters with questions, a lot of new voters, a lot of voters who maybe haven't voted in a while. There are new laws in Ohio, so there are going to be new questions," Warner acknowledged.

Such changes include those in Senate Bill 293, which requires absentee ballots to be received by the time polls close on Election Day and requires additional verification of citizenship during registration.

Around 49% of Americans believe the 2026 midterm election will be free and fair, according to a UC San Diego poll. Voters cited artificial intelligence, foreign interference and cyberattacks, redistricting and the effects of immigration enforcement at polling sites as top concerns.