With the election season and voter registration approaching, Ohio University students and Athens residents are encouraged by local organizations to register to vote.
For students voting for the first time or voting outside of their home county, understanding where to register and vote can be an important first step.
Knowing registration options and understanding the requirements can diminish uncertainty around voting. Local organizations such as the League of Women Voters of Athens County and the Athens Board of Elections aid in the registration and voting process.
The voter registration deadline is Oct. 5. A person can register on a physical voter registration form or online at voteohio.gov. Physical registration forms can be found in local libraries or the Athens Board of Elections Office, where a person can also begin their registration process.
The Elections Office is located at 15 S. Court St. Employees provide visitors with a registration form to register as an Athens County voter, or the opportunity to update their address or Social Security number to be able to vote in Athens County.
If a student wants to vote in their home county but cannot travel there, they can request an absentee ballot 90 days before the election on Nov. 3, 2026. Ballots are only in paper form and can be found at the Elections Office.
After completing the request, an absentee ballot is delivered, which needs to be mailed to a person’s home county’s Board of Elections Office by 7:30 p.m. on election day. There is a specific drop-off mailbox outside the Elections Office for absentee ballots.
Shantelle McLaughlin, deputy director at Athens’ Board of Elections Office, said students who live outside of Athens County can change their voting details online.
“So when they come back, they can just jump online and update it,” she said. “It makes it really easy.”
For students and new residents, knowing where to register to vote and drop off ballots might be confusing. Providing voters with information about the registration process is an important job for the League of Women Voters of Athens County.
Adriane Mohlenkamp, voter services chair with the League of Women Voters of Athens County, coordinates work on voter registration and voter education.
The League of Women Voters’ main goal is to empower voters and defend democracy. Mohlenkamp said this varies from voter education and making registration more accessible to informing people about candidates and issues on the ballot.
“We encourage students to think about registering at the location that’s going to make it easiest for them to vote,” Mohlenkamp said. “If you’re here in Athens and you want to register here in Athens, that’s great. You can walk up to Court Street during early voting hours … or you can vote on election day.”
Mohlenkamp said students living in dorms, houses or apartments can vote in Baker University Center. Mohlenkamp said it is important for voters, especially students, in Athens to take the steps to vote, making an impact and voicing opinions.
“We’re part of the larger population that elects a candidate or not,” Mohlenkamp said. “But I always remind people that even if the candidate you vote for doesn’t get elected, having your vote count in the mix matters because it matters to the politicians in our government.”
With students heavily populating Athens, understanding the meaning behind the voting process and participating in local elections plays an important role in shaping the community one lives and learns in, according to Mohlenkamp.
The League of Women Voters is providing voter registration support at the top of Morton Hill from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday for students to learn more about voting options and how to get involved.
Alisson Leggett, a sophomore studying psychology, said Athens can feel small, so every vote matters.
“Having students be more involved in Athens itself can bring more of the community together,” Leggett said.
