New Albany and Gahanna residents have until 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, to register to vote or update their registration for the Nov. 3 general election.

The deadline, confirmed by the Franklin County Board of Elections election schedule, falls one day before early in-person voting opens Tuesday, Oct. 6. Ohioans can register online at the Ohio Secretary of State's website (ohiosos.gov/elections) or in person at their county board of elections office.

To register, residents need an Ohio driver's license, state ID number or last four digits of their security number, their address, date of birth, and full name.

What's on the ballot

The Nov. 3 ballot is long. Statewide, voters will choose between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton for governor, and between U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican, and former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, for U.S. Senate. Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment requiring photo identification to vote, is also on the statewide ballot.

Closer to home, Gahanna voters face 10 proposed city charter amendments, numbered Issues #18 through #27. Gahanna City Council passed all 10 on July 20. The amendments cover topics including mayoral primary rules, qualifications of elected officials, ward boundary adjustments, the legislative process, administrative departments, the city attorney's office, planning commission attendance, zoning appeals, the charter review commission and non-discrimination protections.

Two examples: Issue #24 would let the Planning Commission set attendance requirements for its members. Issue #26 would change the Charter Review Commission's schedule from every five years to every ten years.

Gahanna and most of New Albany are in the 3rd District. A small part of New Albany, the section in Licking County, is in the 12th Congressional District, where Republican incumbent Troy Balderson faces Democrat Jerrad Christian. Both communities are also in the 4th Ohio House District, where Democrat Beryl Brown Piccolantonio is on the ballot. No Republican opponent in that race appeared in available Franklin County ballot records.

How to vote early

Early in-person voting at the Franklin County Board of Elections, 1700 Morse Road in Columbus, runs from Oct. 6 through Nov. 1. Weekday hours start at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday hours begin Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended evening hours, including 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. slots, start the final week on Oct. 26.

NBC4 reported that military and overseas absentee voting has already begun.

The last day to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27. All absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. A secure 24/7 drop box sits outside the board's office at 1700 Morse Road.

On Election Day, polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Residents can reach the Franklin County Board of Elections at 614-525-3100.