Monday, October 7, is the last day for people in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky to register to vote in this year’s general election.

Interest in voting has increased in Hamilton County. The deputy director of the election committee, Alex Linser, is not surprised. “We always see a surge in registrations before a presidential election. We definitely saw an increase in the summer,” he says. “I think one of the things we know affects voter turnout is when there’s a hot, contested race. And with the national presidential election looking like a good contest, more and more voters want their voices heard.”

It is also the last day to make sure your voter information is up to date. Hamilton County Elections Director Sherry Poland says her office can help.

“If anyone is unsure about their voter registration status, they can always go to our website or call us,” she said. “Of course, we have team members on standby to respond to any calls from voters regarding their registration status, their voting location or the type of ID required on Election Day.”

Poland says board staff are preparing voters for Election Day on Nov. 5.

“We will be mailing an Election Day notice card to every registered voter in Hamilton County during the first two weeks of October, informing them of their precinct and polling locations,” she said. “We try hard not to change polling locations unless necessary, but we will take this extra step because we know there are many voters who may not have voted since 2020.”

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When does early voting begin in my state?

Early in-person voting begins in Ohio and Indiana on Tuesday.

According to Linser, the number of people voting early has increased every year since 2017. “Are people just changing their behavior or are new people coming to vote?” Mail-in voting is largely the same as it was in 2016. But we are seeing that in-person early voting has become very popular and is taking up a larger and larger share of the overall vote.”

Linser says early voting on Election Day results in shorter lines at polling stations.

“The more people who choose to do this, the more votes can be counted when we close the polls,” he says. “You know, who knows, anything can happen between now and Election Day. So when you get there early and vote, you know everything is done and taken care of.”

In Kentucky, excused in-person absentee voting begins October 23rd. Unexcused in-person absentee ballots cannot be cast until October 31st.

Am I registered as a voter?

In addition to calling your local election board office, you can check your status online: