Many of Ohio’s polling places pop up at public locations — think K-12 schools and “other buildings supported by tax dollars,” per the Secretary of State’s office.
Eight of Ohio’s 14 publicly funded four-year universities will operate as polling locations for the upcoming 2024 presidential election, according to data compiled by Signal Cleveland.
These decisions, though, aren’t made by the institutions themselves.
“The University of Toledo has not received a request from the Lucas County Board of Elections to serve as a polling location in November,” a university spokesperson told Signal Cleveland.
Under current state law, that BOE in Northwest Ohio and its peers across Ohio decide where voters cast in-person ballots on Election Day.
Ohio State, Kent State to serve as polling locations
The Ohio universities operating as polling centers also enroll the most students. Plus, big swaths of them live on campus.
That may help with turnout. Researchers found convenience – or lack thereof – influenced people between the ages of 18 and 29 who didn’t vote in the 2022 midterm elections.
In a survey of those students from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, nearly 40% of respondents said they forgot or were too busy to cast a ballot.
Ohio public universities with on-campus polling locations this November are:
- Bowling Green State University
- University of Cincinnati
- Kent State University
- Miami University
- Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) in Rootstown
- Ohio University in Athens
- Ohio State University in Columbus
- Wright State University in Dayton
It’s important to note that just because a university offers a polling place doesn’t necessarily mean students will cast their ballots there. Residents living nearby may also vote on these campuses.
No polling places for University of Akron, Shawnee State
Most of the colleges not offering on-campus polling locations are situated in urban centers. Traditionally, these colleges attract higher numbers of commuter students.
Ohio universities without campus polling places include:
- University of Akron
- Central State University in Wilberforce (voting is offered across the street at private Wilberforce University)
- Cleveland State University
- Shawnee State University in Portsmouth
- University of Toledo
- Youngstown State University
A University of Akron spokesperson told Signal Cleveland they thought the university likely wasn’t a host because it is close to another polling place.
“There is also the added challenge of space, parking, etc., and the campus can be quite busy during election season, so it is likely not the best place for the public to try to access in large numbers,” she said.
🗳️For more on this year’s November election, visit our Election Signals 2024 page.
How other states approach on-campus polling locations
A Republican-led push in one Texas county aimed at getting rid of early voting sites on some college campuses recently failed.
Alternatively, two years ago, New York lawmakers passed a state law requiring polling places to operate on campuses with more than 300 students. That rollout has been rocky. A March 2024 Inside Higher Ed piece called it “slow and erratic.”
On the federal level, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) proposed relevative legislation. It would “ensure the availability of polling places” on college campuses nationwide, among other things.
It’s called the Youth Voting Rights Act. Introduced in 2023, it has yet to make it out of the U.S. Senate.
What type of coverage is missing when it comes to higher education in Ohio? Our reporter Amy Morona wants to know what you think! Send her a note by filling out this form.