Are you prepared to vote in the Nov. 4, 2025 election in Akron? As Nov. 4 approaches, it’s time to make a plan for casting your ballot. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 43.2% of voters cast their ballots by mail and 26.2% cast them early in person. 

In-person early voting

In Summit County, in-person early voting is offered at the Summit County Board of Elections, which recently moved to 1050 E. Tallmadge Ave. in the Chapel Hill neighborhood. The center will be open for absentee voting beginning Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 8 a.m., with select dates and hours through Nov. 2. 

In-person early voting times: 

Oct. 7-10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Oct. 13 – Closed for Columbus Day 

Oct. 14-17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Oct. 20-24 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oct. 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Oct. 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 29-31 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Oct. 30-Nov. 1 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Nov. 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Kingston Williamson, 6, smiles big after his mom, Alonda Williamson, put his “I Voted” sticker on his shirt after coming out to the polls at Arlington Church of God with her during Election Day Tuesday, November 7, 2023, in Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)
Kingston Williamson, 6, smiles big after his mom, Alonda Williamson, put his “I Voted” sticker on his shirt after coming out to the polls at Arlington Church of God on Election Day Tuesday, November 7, 2023. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

Absentee voting by mail 

If you prefer the convenience of voting from home, you can fill out the absentee ballot request form online. The completed form must be signed and mailed to the Summit County Board of Elections at 1050 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron, OH 44310. It can also be dropped off directly. 

If you prefer to request an application by phone, you can call the elections board at (330) 643-5200.

After submitting your request, you can track it on the board’s website. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 28 at 8:30 p.m., but, to avoid any delays, apply for one as soon as possible. 

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Receiving your absentee ballot

Once you receive your absentee ballot, return it as soon as possible. The U.S. Postal Service said it can take between two and five days for your absentee ballot to be delivered by mail.

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 3 and received by your county board of elections no later than four days after the election to be counted. If you’re using postage stamps, make sure to ask postal workers to postmark the envelope.  

If you are returning your absentee ballot in person, it must be returned by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 4. 

If you are unable to return your ballot yourself, a family member can do so on your behalf. A new directive from the Ohio Secretary of State requires that anyone returning a completed ballot on behalf of someone else can’t use a ballot drop box. Instead, the ballot must either be mailed or turned in inside the elections office, where the person must sign an attestation form saying they are returning the ballot within the bounds of the law.

Additionally, disabled voters may designate a representative to drop off their ballot, as long as the representative is not their employer or an officer of their union, as long as they deliver the ballot in person and sign the attestation form. 

Important planning dates for Election Day Nov. 4 

Early in-person voting: Select dates and hours Oct. 7 through Nov. 2

Absentee voting by mail: Begins Oct. 7 

Absentee ballot request deadline: Oct. 28 at 8:30 p.m.

Mailed absentee ballot postmark date: Nov. 3

Election Day: Polls will be open Nov. 4 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.

Community & service reporter (they/them)
Reegan Davis Saunders is Signal Akron’s community & service reporter. Reegan studied journalism and art at Kent State University, and they are passionate about the intersection of the two disciplines.

Although Reegan grew up in metro Detroit, they have always been an Ohio State Buckeyes fan. After living in Kent the past few years, they are excited to explore more of Akron, especially the coffee shops.

At Signal Akron, Reegan hopes to serve underrepresented communities by creating more accessible content.