Your Vote is Your Power. Your Health is Your Right.
National Voter Registration Day Toolkit for Ohio Women and Their Families.
Health Policies on the Ballot: What's at Stake for Ohio Women
Our votes on key local, state, and federal policies have a direct impact on our health and well-being. Here are some of the critical issues facing Ohio women and their families.
Reproductive Freedom
In November 2023, Ohio voters passed Issue 1, which amended the state constitution to protect reproductive freedom, including decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, and abortion. However, this right is still being challenged in the courts and through new legislation, and the composition of the Ohio Supreme Court will be a deciding factor in these cases.
Maternal Health
Ohio has alarmingly high maternal mortality rates, especially for Black women, who are more than 1.5 times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than non-Hispanic white women. Policies that extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for up to 12 months, provide Medicaid reimbursement for doula services, and fund home visiting programs are vital for addressing these disparities.
Contraceptive Access
Despite the passage of Issue 1, access to family planning services and contraception remains a challenge for many Ohio women. Around 725,000 women of reproductive age in Ohio live in "contraceptive deserts" with limited access to care. Legislation and funding for programs that provide comprehensive reproductive health services can help close these gaps.
How to Register to Vote
In Ohio, the deadline to register to vote for the November 4, 2025 General Election is Monday, October 6, 2025. You can register or update your information in several ways:
Online: Visit the official Ohio Secretary of State website, VoteOhio.gov. You'll need to provide your Ohio driver's license or state ID card number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
By Mail: Download and print a voter registration form from the Ohio Secretary of State's website. You must mail the completed form, postmarked by October 6, 2025, to your county's Board of Elections.
In-Person: You can register at your county's Board of Elections office, any Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) office, public libraries, public high schools, and certain designated agencies.
Know Your Voting Rights and New Laws
Voter suppression disproportionately impacts communities of color and is a critical health equity issue. Policies that restrict voting access can create stress and limit a community's ability to advocate for better resources. It's important to be aware of common barriers and new laws.
Photo ID Law: As of 2023, Ohio law requires all voters to present a photo ID when voting in person. Make sure you have one of the following unexpired forms of ID: Ohio driver's license or state ID card, U.S. passport, or U.S. military ID.
Voter Roll Purges: Ohio regularly removes inactive voters from its rolls. If you've been inactive for a few years, it's crucial to check your registration status at VoteOhio.gov to ensure you haven't been removed.
Know Your Rights: You have the right to cast a provisional ballot if your registration is in question. If you encounter any issues, report them immediately to a non-partisan voter protection hotline, such as the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.
Make a Plan to Vote
A solid plan makes the voting process stress-free and accessible, especially for women balancing work, childcare, and family health needs.
Find Your Polling Place. Locate your correct and closest polling place and its hours of operation on the Ohio Secretary of State website.
Early Voting. Early in-person voting begins in Ohio on October 7, 2025. You can also request an absentee ballot to vote by mail. The last day to request an absentee ballot is October 28, 2025.
Free Rides to the Polls. Many local organizations offer free transportation. Check with groups like the Greater Cincinnati Voter Collaborative or VoterDrive in Cleveland for services.
Sample Text Messages
Help your friends and family get registered and ready to vote. A simple text can make all the difference.
For a friend: "Hey! It's National Voter Registration Day. In Ohio, our deadline to register is Oct. 6. Our health and our families' health depend on who we elect. Let's make sure we're registered. Here's the link: https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/."
For a family member: "Hi! Today's National Voter Registration Day. In Ohio, the deadline is Oct. 6. Want to check if you're registered? I can help you find the info. Our votes on healthcare, food access, and safe neighborhoods are so important."
For a group chat: "Hey everyone, reminder that today is National Voter Registration Day! The people who make decisions about our health are on the ballot. Let's get registered and ready to vote. In Ohio, the deadline is Oct. 6. Check your status here: https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/."
Key Definitions
Political Determinants of Health: The political decisions and systems that decide how power and resources are distributed, which, in turn, affect the health of individuals and communities. This includes laws, budgets, and policies.
Social Determinants of Health: The conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect their health outcomes. These factors are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources, and include things like housing, education, transportation, and access to healthy food.
Health Equity: The principle that everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This means eliminating social and economic barriers, as well as systemic injustices, that prevent certain groups of people from achieving their full health potential.
Reproductive Rights: The legal right to make personal decisions about reproduction, including the right to use contraception, choose to have an abortion, and access comprehensive family planning and fertility services.
Maternal Mortality: The death of a person while pregnant or within one year of the end of a pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management. Disparities in maternal mortality rates disproportionately affect women of color.
Contraceptive Desert: An area where there are not enough health centers offering the full range of contraceptive methods to meet the needs of all women of reproductive age.
Provisional Ballot: A type of ballot used when a voter's eligibility is in question. The ballot is not counted until the voter's registration and eligibility are verified.