Breadcrumb Navigation
Directives, Advisories, Memos & Tie Votes
Ohio Election Official Manual (Permanent Directives)
Complete Election Official Manual (includes all chapters as one PDF)
Directive 2022-05 | Chapter 1 | Introduction (PDF) |
Directive 2022-06 | Chapter 2 | Board of Elections Organization and Operations (PDF) |
Directive 2022-07 | Chapter 3 | Security (PDF) |
Directive 2022-08 | Chapter 4 | Voter Registration (PDF) |
Directive 2022-09 | Chapter 5 | Ballots (PDF) |
Directive 2022-10 | Chapter 6 | Precincts, Polling Locations, and Precinct Election Officials (PDF) |
Directive 2022-11 | Chapter 7 | Absentee Voting (PDF) |
Directive 2022-12 | Chapter 8 | Provisional Voting (PDF) |
Directive 2022-13 | Chapter 9 | Election Day Voting (PDF) |
Directive 2022-14 | Chapter 10 | Canvassing the Vote (PDF) |
Directive 2022-15 | Chapter 11 | Post-Election Activities (PDF) |
Directive 2022-16 | Chapter 12 | Voting Systems (PDF) |
Directive 2022-17 | Chapter 13 | Petitions (PDF) |
Directive 2022-18 | Chapter 14 | Candidates (PDF) |
Directive 2022-19 | Chapter 15 | Political Parties (PDF) |
Directive 2022-20 | Chapter 16 | Statewide Initiatives and Referendum (PDF) |
Directive 2022-21 | Chapter 17 | Miscellaneous Duties (PDF) |
Chapter 18 | Resources (PDF) |
Other Directives
- Directive 2022-03: House Bill ("H.B.") 93 (PDF)
- Addendum to Declaration of Candidacy, Nominating Petition, or Declaration of Intent to be a Write-in Candidate (PDF)
- Notification to Election Officials (PDF)
- State House Districts - County Population and Filing Location - September 2021 (PDF)
- State House Districts - County Population and Filing Location - January 22, 2022 (PDF)
- State Senate Districts - County Population and Filing Location - September 2021 (PDF)
- State Senate Districts - County Population and Filing Location - January 22, 2022 (PDF)
- Congressional Districts - County Population and Filing Location - S.B. 258 (134th GA) (PDF)
- House District Shapefile (ZIP)
- Senate District Shapefile (ZIP)
- Directive 2022-02: Instructions Regarding the Review, Examination, and Verification of the Supplemental Part-Petitions Proposing an Initiated Statute (An Act to Control and Regulate Adult Use Cannabis) (PDF)
- Directive 2022-01: 2021 Annual Expense Report (PDF)
- Directive 2021-21: Instructions Regarding the Review, Examination, and Verification of the Petition Proposing an Initiated Statute (An Act to Control and Regulate Adult Use Cannabis) (PDF)
- Directive 2021-20: Unofficial and Official Canvasses of the November 2, 2021 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2021-19: 2021 General Voter Records Maintenance Program (PDF)
- Directive 2021-18: Ballots for November 2, 2021 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2021-17: Unofficial and Official Canvass Directive for August 3, 2021 Special Congressional Primary Election in the 11th and 15th Congressional Districts (PDF)
- Directive 2021-16: Data Collection, Notice, and Cancellation Procedures for Completion of 2017 National Change of Address Process (PDF)
- Directive 2021-15: Ballot for August 3, 2021 Special Congressional Primary Election in the 11th and 15th Congressional Districts (PDF)
- Directive 2021-14: Special Congressional Election in Ohio's 15th Congressional District (PDF)
- Directive 2021-13: Unofficial and Official Canvasses of the May 4, 2021 Primary/Special Election; Open Meetings; and Precinct Election Official Training (PDF)
- Directive 2021-12: Special Congressional Election in Ohio's 11th Congressional District (PDF)
- Directive 2021-11: Ballots for May 4, 2021 Primary/Special Election (PDF)
- Directive 2021-10: The Use of Secure Receptacles and Election Officials to Receive Absentee Ballots Outside of the Boards of Elections (PDF)
- Directive 2021-09: H.B. 500 (132nd General Assembly) Electronic Certification of Questions and Issues (PDF)
- Directive 2021-01: Updated Election Official Manual and Related Directives (PDF)
- Directive 2020-26: Appointments to the Board of Elections in Each County for Full Terms Commencing March 1, 2021; Board’s 2021 Reorganization and Accompanying Documents (PDF)
- Directive 2020-25: United States Election Assistance Commission (“EAC”) Election Administration and Voting Survey; 2020 Annual Expense Report (PDF)
- Directive 2020-24: S.B. 107 (133rd General Assembly) Electronic Campaign Finance Filing for Local Entities (PDF)
- Directive 2020-23: Expedited Canvass and Certification of the November 3, 2020 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2020-22: The Use of Secure Receptacles Outside of the Boards of Elections; Litigation; and the Use of Election Officials to Receive Absentee Ballots Outside the Boards of Elections (PDF)
- Directive 2020-21: Replacement Absentee Ballots and Provisional Voting (PDF)
- September 25, 2020: Updated Health Guidance for Boards of Elections (PDF)
- Directive 2020-20: Ohio Democratic Party, et al. v. LaRose Litigation (PDF)
- Directive 2020-19: Certified Candidates for President and Vice President of the United States (PDF)
- Directive 2020-18: Processing Absentee Ballot Requests (PDF)
- Directive 2020-17: Ballots for November 3, 2020 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2020-16: The Use of Drop Boxes and Additional Instructions for Curbside Voting (PDF)
- Directive 2020-15: The Examination and Verification of Petitions from Independent Candidates for President and Vice President of the United States (PDF)
- Directive 2020-14: Data Collection Registration Readiness Notice and Cancellation Procedures for Completion of 2016 Supplemental and National Change of Address and Accompanying Documents (PDF)
- Directive 2020-13: Preparation for the Statewide Mailing of Absentee Ballot Applications for the November 3, 2020 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2020-12: Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Funds - Security And Accessibility Grants and Accompanying Documents (PDF)
- Directive 2020-11: CARES Act Funding and Election Administration Preparedness for November 3, 2020 Presidential General Election (PDF)
- Precinct Election Official Survey (PDF)
- Template letter to school boards (DOCX)
- Due Date Calendar (PDF)
- Funding Use Plan Template (XLSX)
- Quote Template (XLSX)
- Expense Report Template (XLSX)
- Progress Report Template (XLSX)
- Updated 11 Outgoing Absentee Ballot Material (supply envelope) (PDF)
- Updated 12-A ID Envelope (PDF)
- Updated 12-F Return Envelope (PDF)
- Directive 2020-10: General Voter Records Maintenance Program - National Change of Address (NCOA) Process Only (PDF)
- Directive 2020-09 Post-Election Cure Period and Provisional Ballots in the March 17, 2020 Primary Election (PDF)
- Directive 2020-08: In-Person Absentee Voting on April 28, 2020; Unofficial and Official Canvasses of the March 17, 2020 Primary Election; Annual Report Extension (PDF)
- Directive 2020-07: House Bill 197 and Additional Instructions (PDF)
- Directive 2020-06: Order from Director of Health Dr. Amy Acton Closing Polls for the March 17, 2020 Presidential Primary Election (PDF) (rescinded)
- Directive 2020-05: Unforeseeably Confined or Hospitalized Voters, Curbside Voting, and Best Practices for the March 17, 2020 Election in Response to Coronavirus/COVID-19 (PDF) (rescinded)
- Directive 2020-04: Unofficial and Official Canvasses of the March 17, 2020 Primary Election (PDF) (rescinded)
- Directive 2020-03: Polling Locations at Residential Senior Citizen Facilities (PDF)
- Directive 2020-02: 2019 Annual Report of Expenses of the Board (PDF)
- Directive 2020-01: Ballots for March 17, 2020 Primary Election (PDF)
- Directive 2019-34: Examination and Verification of Statewide Petitions (PDF)
- Directive 2019-25: Updated Election Official Manual and Related Directives (PDF)
- Directive 2019-24: Unofficial and Official Canvasses for November 2019 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2019-23: Provisional Ballots Cast by Voters Cancelled Under Ohio’s Supplemental Process – effective for all elections taking place through December 31, 2022 (PDF)
- Directive 2019-22: Additional Guidance Regarding the Cancellation Procedures (PDF)
- Directive 2019-21: Ballots for November 5, 2019 General Election and Sample Ballots (PDF)
- Directive 2019-20: Second Initial Part-Petitions Filed Re: Prospective Referendum Petition Concerning Am. Sub. H.B. 6 of the 133rd General Assembly (PDF)
- Directives 2019-11 through 2019-19: Updated Election Official Manual and Related Directives (PDF)
- Directive 2019-10: Initial Petitions Filed Re: Prospective Referendum Petition Concerning Am. Sub. H.B. 6 of the 133rd General Assembly (PDF)
- Directive 2019-09: Cancellation Procedures for 2015 Supplemental and NCOA Processes of General Voter Records Maintenance Program (PDF).
- Directive 2019-08: Security (PDF)
- Directive 2019-07: Reporting of Security Events (PDF)
- Directive 2019-06: Notice of Cancellation of Voter Registration - Incompetency for the Purpose of Voting (PDF)
- Directive 2019-05: Unofficial and Official Canvasses of the May 7, 2019 Primary/Special Election (PDF)
- Directive 2019-04: Provisional Ballots Cast by Voters Cancelled Since 2011 Under Ohio’s Supplemental Process – effective only for the May 7, 2019 Primary/Special Election (PDF)
- Directive 2019-03: General Voter Records Maintenance Program – NCOA Process Only (PDF)
- Directive 2019-02: Ballots for May 7, 2019 Primary/Special Election (PDF)
- Directive 2019-01: Instructions Regarding In-Person Absentee Voting (PDF)
- Directive 2018-43: 2018 Annual Report of Expenses of the Board (PDF)
- Directive 2018-42: Appointments to the Board of Elections in Each County for Full Terms Commencing March 1, 2019; Board’s 2019 Reorganization (PDF)
- Directive 2018-41: EAC Survey (PDF)
- Directive 2018-40: Allegations of Voter Suppression or Voter Fraud in the November 6, 2018 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2018-39: Cancellation Procedures for Voters Who Failed to Act on a Confirmation Notice Issued in 2013 or 2014 Pursuant to the Supplemental Process of the General Voter Records Maintenance Program (PDF)
- Directive 2018-38: Official Canvass of the November 6, 2018 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2018-37 Montgomery County: Providing Absentee Ballots to Named Plaintiffs in the Attached Order (PDF)
- Directive 2018-36: To the Butler County Board of Elections (PDF)
- Directive 2018-35: Provisional Ballots Cast by Voters Cancelled Since 2011 Under Ohio’s Supplemental Process (APRI Exception) (PDF)
- Directive 2018-34: Mandatory Review of Directives Prior to Election Day (PDF)
- Directive 2018-33: Post-Election Cure Period for Absentee and Provisional Ballots (PDF)
- Directive 2018-32: Unofficial Canvass of the November 6, 2018 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2018-30: Reminder of Important Security Precautions and Practices (PDF)
- Directive 2018-29: Ballot Quantities and Important Reminders for the November 6, 2018 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2018-21-2: Automatic Confirmation of Address Safeguard Lookback (PDF)
- Directive 2018-28: Ballots and Candidates for the November 6, 2018 General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2018-27: Instructions Regarding the Review, Examination, and Verification of the Supplementary Part-Petitions Proposing a Constitutional Amendment (PDF)
- Directive 2018-26: Issued Pursuant to Court Order - Provisional Ballots Cast by Voters Cancelled Since 2011 Under Ohio's Supplemental Process (PDF)
- Directive 2018-25: Unofficial and Official Canvasses of the August 7, 2018 Special Congressional General Election for the 12th Congressional District (PDF)
- Directive 2018-24: Mandatory Training for Precinct Election Officials (PDF)
- Directive 2018-23: Examination of Verification of Nominating Petitions from Statewide Candidates (PDF)
- Directive 2018-22: Notice of Cancellation Procedures (PDF)
- Directive 2018-21: Automatic Confirmation of Address Safeguard (PDF)
- Directive 2018-20: 2018 General Voter Records Maintenance Program – Supplemental Process (PDF)
- Directive 2018-19: “APRI Exception” No Longer in Effect (PDF)
- Directive 2018-18: Preparation for the Statewide Mailing of Absentee Ballot Applications (PDF)
- Directive 2018-17: Instructions Regarding the Review, Examination, and Verification of Petitions Proposing Amendments to the Ohio Constitution (PDF)
- Directive 2018-16: Instructions Regarding the Review, Examination, and Verification of the Petition to Form a Minor Political Party (PDF)
- Directive 2018-15: Cybersecurity (PDF)
- Directive 2018-14: Examination and Verification of Petition for Independent Candidates (PDF)
- Directive 2018-13: Ballot for August 7, 2018 Special Congressional General Election (PDF)
- Directive 2018-12: Use of a Remote Ballot Marking System (PDF)
- Directive 2018-11: Pursuant to a Court Order – Directives 2016-39, 2016-41, and 2016-45 Apply to May 8, 2018 Primary Election (PDF)
- Directive 2018-10: Unofficial and Official Canvasses of the May 8, 2018 Primary Election (and Special Congressional Primary Election for the 12th Congressional District) (PDF)
- Directive 2018-09: Reminder of Important Security Precautions and Practices (PDF)
- Directive 2018-08: Ballot Quantities and Important Reminders for the May 8, 2018 Primary Election (PDF)
- Directive 2018-07: Ballots and Candidates for May 8, 2018 Primary Election and Special Congressional Primary Election for the 12th Ohio Congressional District (PDF)
- Directive 2018-06: Statewide Candidates for the May 8, 2018 Primary Election (PDF)
- Directive 2018-05: The Examination and Verification of Petitions from Candidates for Statewide Office (PDF)
- Directive 2018-04: 2018 General Voter Records Maintenance Program – NCOA Process Only (PDF)
- Directive 2018-03: Availability of a Remote Ballot Marking System for Use by a Voter with a Disability During Ohio’s By-Mail Absentee Voting Period (PDF)
- Directive 2018-01:Special Congressional Primary & General Elections in Ohio's 12th Congressional District
- Directive 2017-21: Pursuant to a Court Order – Directives 2016-39, 2016-41, and 2016-45 Apply to November 7, 2017 General Election
- Directive 2017-19 Reminder of Important Security Precautions and Practices
- Directive 2017-06: Reasonable Accomodation for a Voter with a Disability Who is Unexpectedly Hospitalized in an Out-of-County Hospital After the Absentee Ballot Request Deadline
- Directive 2008-80
Archive of Directives Previously Published (no longer in effect)
Archive of Advisories Previously Published (no longer in effect)