Athens County voters who want to cast a ballot ahead of the November 3, 2026 general election can vote early in person this week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Athens County Board of Elections, 15 S. Court St., Suite 130, in Athens. Early voting takes place only at the board office, not at a voter’s regular precinct polling place, which will not open until Election Day itself.
The 8-to-5 schedule runs Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 23, under the statewide early-voting hours set by the Ohio Secretary of State, with additional hours on Saturday, October 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those early-voting hours are longer than the board’s regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Voters with questions can reach the board at 740-592-3201.
This is a second look at Athens County’s fall election for voters who saw an earlier ballot preview this month. The focus now shifts from what is on the ballot to when and where to vote, as the first full week of early voting gets underway and several deadlines move closer. Planning a time to vote this week can help voters avoid the longer hours and heavier traffic expected in the final days before Election Day.
Before heading to Court Street, voters can view their sample ballot and ballot list through links provided by the board of elections and through the Ohio Secretary of State’s voter lookup. Checking a sample ballot in advance lets voters see the exact races and issues they will decide and review identification requirements on those same official sites, so there are no surprises at check-in.
Early-voting hours expand next week. Voting runs Monday, October 26, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, October 27, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, October 28, through Friday, October 30, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The final weekend brings hours on Saturday, October 31, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, November 1, from 1 to 5 p.m., which is the last day of early in-person voting.
Voters voting by mail face deadlines of their own. An absentee ballot application must be received by the board by 8:30 p.m. on October 27. A completed non-UOCAVA absentee ballot must be received by the board by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, to be counted, while UOCAVA ballots from military and overseas voters must be received by November 7.
For voters who prefer to vote on Election Day, polls across Athens County will be open Tuesday, November 3, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at precinct polling places. Whether voting early on Court Street this week, by mail, or in person on November 3, officials encourage voters to confirm their ballot and identification requirements ahead of time through the board of elections or the Secretary of State.
Photo: Stch2022, CC BY-SA 4.0