CINCINNATI — Ohio and Indiana both have primary elections on May 5, 2026.
While early voting has been going on for weeks now, it ended Sunday, May 3 and in-person voting at all precincts begins Tuesday morning. Polls in Ohio are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Polls in Indiana are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Voters in Kentucky, however, will have to wait a while longer for their state's in-person early voting period, which begins on May 14.
Here's what voters need to know:
Ohio Voters
Early voting for Ohioans ended on Sunday, May 3.
The only item voters in Ohio need to bring with them is an acceptable form of identification, which would include a valid Ohio driver's license or state ID card; a U.S. passport or passport card; or a military dependent ID, Ohio National Guard ID or Department of Veterans Affairs ID, according to the Ohio Secretary of State's website.
Any valid ID must include your name, photo and a valid expiration date.
If you forget to bring a valid photo identification, polling place officials will allow you to cast a provisional ballot, but you must then present a valid photo ID within four days for it to be counted.
Changes this year for Ohioans
This election season marks the first for some Ohio voters in newly redrawn districts. We went to the Hamilton County Board of Elections and talked with Director Sherry Poland, who told us some Hamilton County voters will not have the option to vote for their current congressional representatives as they will be in a new district going into 2027.
"About 9% of voters in Hamilton County did move, either from the 1st congressional to the 8th or from the 8th to the 1st," Poland said. "In Hamilton County, we did mail a postcard to every registered voter informing them of their precinct, their polling location and their voting districts, including their congressional districts."
Another change this year has to do with voting by mail. Under Ohio's new law, absentee ballots have to be received by the county board of elections before polls close on Election Day. Voters should be sure to request and return ballots early.
Ohio's biggest races this primary
Congressman Greg Landsman is up for re-election, facing off against fellow Cincinnati native Damon Lynch.
Potentially the most expensive race in state history is the race to replace Governor Mike DeWine. That includes three Republicans: Cincinnati native Vivek Ramaswamy, Casey Putch, and Heather Hill. The winner of the primary will go on to face Democrat Amy Acton in the general election this November.
Click here to find where to cast your vote and to see a sample ballot.
Indiana Voters
Early in-person voting is set to take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through April 24, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 27 through May 1, and from 8 a.m. to noon on May 4. Polls will also be open for early in-person voting from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekend days of April 25, April 26, May 2 and May 3.
Voters will need to provide a government-issued photo ID, including either an Indiana Driver's License, a state-issued ID, military ID or a passport. If you are unable or unwilling to present an ID at the polling place, you can still cast a provisional ballot, but for it to be counted, you have until noon 10 days after the election to follow up with the county election board to provide necessary documentation or affirm one of the state's Photo ID laws applies to you.
Indiana's biggest races this primary
In Indiana, we are tracking a U.S. House and an Indiana State House race.
Indiana voters will see candidates for the following races on their primary ballots: secretary of state, state comptroller, state treasurer, U.S. representatives (all nine seats), state senator (25 of the 50 seats) and state representatives (all 100 seats).
The primary will also give voters the chance to choose candidates for circuit and superior court judges in some counties, prosecuting attorneys, sheriffs and assessors in all counties, and other county, city or town races, as well as Democratic and Republican Party state convention delegates and Democratic Party precinct committeemen.
Click here to find out where to cast your ballot based on your voter registration information.
Kentucky voters
Election Day in Kentucky is happening soon as well, but the Commonwealth will head to the polls a bit later in May.
Voters in Kentucky will have the chance to vote early as in-person absentee as early as May 6. May 6, 7 and 8 and then May 11, 12, and 13 are the excused in-person absentee voting days in Kentucky. On those days, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., voters who meet certain eligibility requirements can vote at their absentee location.
Anyone who is eligible to vote can cast their ballots early in the state's "No-Excuse absentee voting" on May 14 and 15 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and on May 16 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at their absentee location. On those three days, voters will not have to meet the additional eligibility requirements that were in place for "excused" early voting.
The primary election is being held on May 19. Voters may cast their ballots at their specific polling places from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Click here to find your polling locations for excused in-person absentee, no-excuse absentee and Primary Election Day voting.
The biggest races people are talking about include the race to replace Senator Mitch McConnell. On the Republican side of the ticket, there are 12 candidates, and on the Democratic side, there are seven.
Another massive race features incumbent Republican Thomas Massie versus Trump-backed Ed Gallrein. On the Democratic side, Melissa Strange and Jesse Brewer are running.
Click here to find out where to cast your ballot based on your voter registration information.
