Every state except North Dakota requires citizens to register if they want to vote in state and federal elections. In North Dakota, eligible citizens can simply appear at the polls with the required identification and be permitted to vote.

Depending on the state, the voter registration deadline could be as much as a month before an election. Each state has its own voting and election laws, including when and how to register to vote. In many states registration may be completed online. A citizen may also register at the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), at the local elections office, or through a voter registration organization.

Voter registration laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the elections code.

In Ohio, citizens must register to vote in state and federal elections. The deadline for voter registration in Ohio is typically 30 days before an election. Ohio residents can register to vote online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website, at the DMV, at county boards of elections, or through other designated agencies such as public libraries and high schools. Voter registration can also be completed by mailing a completed voter registration form to the appropriate board of elections. Ohio law requires individuals to provide their full name, current address, date of birth, and either the last four digits of their Social Security number or their Ohio driver's license or state identification number. The state's voter registration laws are found within the Ohio Revised Code, specifically in the sections pertaining to elections.