FAQ

What are the minimum requirements to run for judge in Ohio?

• A candidate must be a licensed attorney with at least six years of experience practicing law in Ohio.
• The candidate must be a resident and a registered voter in the territory or district of the court for which he or she seeks.
• The candidate cannot reach the age of 70 prior to beginning a term in office.

How long is a judge's term in office?

All judges serve six-year terms.

When is the 2024 election?

The 2024 primary election is Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

The general election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Polls are open throughout Ohio from 6:30AM to 7:30PM.

Why is a judge candidate's political affiliation not listed on their biography?

No matter what level of court they serve, judges in office are called upon to consider the specific facts of the cases before them and rule without regard for partisan affiliation. In Ohio, though, some races for court seats will show a candidate's partisan affiliation on the ballot, while others do not. 

Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals Candidates

Beginning in 2022, all candidates for state Supreme Court and the Ohio courts of appeals will have their party affiliation appear next to their names during both the primary and general elections under legislation signed into law by Ohio's Governor in 2021 (Senate Bill 80).

Common Pleas Courts and County Court Candidates

In Ohio, local court candidates run in partisan primary elections, meaning they are nominated by a political party and their political affiliation is listed on the primary ballot. 

However, during the general election in November, all local court candidates run as non-partisan candidates so their political affiliation, if any, is not listed on the ballot. Judicial Votes Count is representative of what voters will see on their ballots – the site lists candidates’ political affiliation, if any, prior to a primary election, but will not list political affiliation prior to a general election. 

Why does my county not have local judge races this year?

The terms for judicial seats are staggered, so judges are not all elected at the same time.

In 2023, some counties will be voting for municipal court judges. But not all counties have judicial elections each year. 

Additionally, some counties may not have contested judicial primaries, so candidates for judge may automatically move to the general election ballot. Because of this, you may not see judicial races on your primary election ballot in May, but there may be judicial candidates running in your county in November. That's why its important for voters to research their judicial candidates, if any, prior to each election.

Your board of elections can provide you with a sample ballot, so you can view the races that will be on your ballot when you go to the polls. 

Why are there no bar ratings or recommendations listed for candidates in my county?

Not all local bar associations rate or recommend candidates. It’s also possible that a candidate has not added endorsements, ratings or recommendations to his or her candidate profile. It is up to the candidates to request these additions to online profiles.

Are there new election laws in Ohio?

Changes to Ohio's voting laws were signed by the Governor as House Bill 458 on Jan. 6, 2023. The bill made several changes to elections. 

• Photo ID is required to vote.
  • You can find acceptable types of ID here. 
  • If you are applying to vote absentee by mail or are returning an absentee ballot, you must provide an Ohio driver’s license or Ohio ID number, the last four digits of your Social Security number or a phot copy of your photo ID. 
  • Without a valid ID, you’ll cast a provisional ballot and must show photo ID to your local board of elections after Election Day.  
  • If you have a religious objection to being photographed, you can sign an affidavit to that effect and cast a provisional ballot using the last four digits of your Social Security number. 

• Days available for early in-person voting have changed. 
  • In-person early voting now ends the Sunday before election day in order to allow boards of elections time to prepare. 
  • Voters can no longer cast their ballots the Monday before Election Day. 
  • The Secretary of State may re-allocate those six hours of voting time to the Monday-Friday the week prior to the election.

• Absentee ballot applications are due to your board of election by close of business on the seventh day before Election Day. 
  • The deadline to apply to cast an absentee ballot by mail has moved from noon on the third day before Election Day to the close of business on the seventh day before Election Day. 

• Curbside voting is prohibited, except for those with disabilities. 

• Ballot drop boxes are limited to one per county at your board of elections.
  • Find your local board of elections here.