Nearly 209,000 Ohio voter registrations are scheduled to be purged in January 2027 unless voters take steps to keep them active.
The Ohio Secretary of State's office recently published a searchable database where voters can check whether their registration is active. It flagged 208,856 records as inactive through the state's voter-roll maintenance process.
The state says no registrations on the list will be removed before the November 2026 general election.
"Ohio keeps the cleanest voter rolls in the country, and the vast majority of these registrations are simply outdated data that need to be removed," Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said in a statement. "However, if you are an eligible Ohio voter who is on the Registration Readiness List,
the easiest way to ensure your voter registration is not impacted next year is to vote on November 3."
If you're an Ohio voter who hasn't voted, updated your registration or responded to election mailings in recent years, it's worth checking whether your name appears on the list. Here's how.
Will your Ohio vote be purged in 2027? How to check
The Ohio Secretary of State's office flagged 208,856 voter registrations currently scheduled for cancellation on Jan. 27, 2027, which can be found through its database.
The state says the registrations belong to voters who reported moving, were placed in confirmation status or remained inactive for at least four years after receiving a confirmation notice.
"Whether you've recently moved, changed your name, or haven’t voted in a while, now is the time to make sure your voter registration is accurate and up to date," said LaRose in a release. "It only takes a few minutes to check your status at VoteOhio.gov and make sure you’re ready to make your voice heard this November."
Voters on the list can prevent cancellation by voting, confirming their registration information or completing other qualifying voter activity before the deadline, according to the state. Voters can search the state's Registration Readiness Database to see whether their registration is among those scheduled for cancellation.
Can you register again if you're removed from Ohio's database?
Yes. Eligible Ohio voters whose registrations are removed can register again at any time at VoteOhio.gov.
The state notes that the database is not continuously updated. That means some voters who recently renewed or confirmed their registration may still appear in the online list, even though county election officials will update their records and prevent the registration from being canceled.
How to keep your Ohio voter registration active
According to the Secretary of State's office, voters can prevent cancellation by:
- Voting in the Nov. 3, 2026 election.
- Updating or confirming their address.
- Submitting an absentee ballot application.
- Signing a candidate or issue petition that is verified by election officials.
- Updating or confirming their voter registration online, by mail or in person.
How to check your voter registration in Ohio
To check if you're registered to vote in Ohio, visit the state's voter search lookup page and enter your first and last names, and your county of residence.
If you are having trouble finding your voter registration, the Ohio Secretary of State's office offers the following tips:
- Are you registered to vote?
- Could you be registered with a derivative of your first name, such as Bob or Robert?
- Could you be registered with a former last name?
- Could you be registered at a previous address in another Ohio county?
If you are unable to locate your voter registration information, but believe you are registered to vote, it is recommended that you search again making sure all the information you provided is accurate. Contact your county board of elections regarding any questions pertaining to your voter registration.
How to register or update your information
To register to vote, or update your registration, head to olvr.ohiosos.gov.
To complete the process online you will need the following information:
- Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- The last four digits of your Social Security number
- If you don't have all that information, download and complete a paper form and mail it to your county board of elections.
Important 2026 voting dates
Here are a few deadlines to keep in mind ahead of the election:
- Oct. 5: Voter registration deadline
- Oct. 6: Absentee and early in-person voting begins
- Nov. 1: Early in-person voting ends
- Oct. 27: Absentee ballot application deadline
- Nov. 3 by 7:30 p.m: Deadline for most absentee ballots to be received
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio plans to purge 209,000 voters in 2027
