2020 Election

WOSU has your guide to the 2020 election in Ohio and around the country. Find stories here on the presidential contest, U.S. House races and more from WOSU and NPR.

Read our Ohio voting guide for information on how to vote and what's on your ballot. And check out WOSU's visual guide to voting in the 2020 election.

Here’s some key dates to know for the fall election:

  • General election voter registration deadline: Oct. 5, 2020
  • Early voting begins: Oct. 6, 2020
  • Deadline to request absentee ballot: Oct. 31, 2020
  • Early voting and mail-in voting ends: Nov. 2, 2020
  • General election: Nov. 3, 2020

WOSU also wants to hear from Ohioans about what you care about in 2020. Below, tell us what issues you want candidates to talk about during this election.

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Nuclear Bailout Corruption Investigation Featured In Many Statehouse Races

By • 21 hours ago
The Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Perry, Ohio
Dan Konik / Ohio Public Radio

The down ballot races are heating up in the fight over Ohio House and Senate seats. In the spotlight of many campaigns is one of the largest corruption investigations Ohio has ever seen, and the energy bill at the heart of the case.

Voting Rights Groups Drop Federal Lawsuit Over Additional Ballot Drop Boxes

By • 22 hours ago
In this April 28, 2020 file photo, Marcia McCoy drops her ballot into a box outside the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections in Cleveland, Ohio.
Tony Dejak / Associated Press

A federal lawsuit against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose that could have allowed counties to add more ballot drop boxes at various locations for the November election has been dropped.

President Trump To Campaign In Circleville On Saturday

By • Oct 23, 2020
President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Dayton International Airport, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, at Dayton, Ohio.
Alex Brandon / AP

President Trump is coming to central Ohio in the home stretch of campaigning before the November 3 election.

Trump plans to speak Saturday at the Pickaway Agricultural and Event Center in Circleville. Doors open at 1 p.m. for the 4 p.m. rally.

Trump And Biden Had A Real Debate, And 4 Other Takeaways

By • Oct 23, 2020

President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden met for their second and final debate as tens of millions of Americans have already voted. A deeply divided country begins its final sprint to Election Day amid the coronavirus pandemic, and it's unclear how many voters have yet to make up their minds.

Here are five takeaways from the debate in Nashville, Tenn., a much different — and far more civil — night than the last encounter.

Republican Strategist Karl Rove Weighs In On Ohio Elections

By & • Oct 22, 2020
GOP political consultant Karl Rove speaks at the LBJ Presidential Library and the Texas Book Festival on December 1, 2015.
Jay Godwin / LBJ Library via Flickr Creative Commons

In this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, hosts Mike Thompson and Steve Brown discuss why influential political consultant Karl Rove is working to help conservative justices retain their seats on the Ohio Supreme Court.

Sen. Kamala Harris To Campaign In Cleveland Saturday

By • Oct 22, 2020

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has scheduled a trip to Cleveland for Saturday as the presidential campaign nears its final week before Election Day.

The Democratic vice presidential candidate pulled out of an earlier Cleveland trip last week after a member of her flight crew and a member of her campaign staff tested positive for the coronavirus.

Harris stepped away from in-person events over the weekend, hitting the campaign trail again Wednesday with a trip through North Carolina.

Will Criminal Justice Reform Movement Impact The Prosecutor’s Race?

By • Oct 22, 2020
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien giving closing arguments in the case of Quentin Smith, who killed two Westerville Police officers, on Oct. 31, 2019.
Fred Squillante / Pool/Columbus Dispatch

The longest-serving prosecutor in Franklin County’s history, Republican Ron O’Brien, has a challenger for his seat this election, Democratic candidate Gary Tyack. Activists are looking at the prosecutor’s office as another opportunity for criminal justice reforms.

Live: Trump-Biden Final Presidential Debate

By editor • Oct 22, 2020

President Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden have their final debate Thursday night in Nashville.

Follow NPR's live coverage, including updates and fact checks.

Pence In Cincinnati: 'The Road To Victory Runs Through Ohio'

By • Oct 21, 2020

Vice President Mike Pence spent just shy of an hour addressing supporters during a campaign event in a hangar at Lunken Airport Wednesday evening. The crowd, clad in red Make America Great Again caps and patriotic clothing, cheered and rose to their feet as he talked about the Trump administration's record on the economy, energy policies, supporting military and law enforcement, filling judiciary seats - including on the Supreme Court - and health care.

Ohio Democratic Leader Not Keen On Possible Kasich Cabinet Post Under Biden

By • Oct 21, 2020
Former Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) delivers pre-recorded address Westerville durinthe first night of the Democratic National Convention.
Democratic National Convention / YouTube

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s name has been mentioned as a possible choice for a cabinet pick if Democrat Joe Biden gets elected as president. While that might be attractive to some, the leader of Ohio's Democratic Party says it's not something many Ohio Democrats support.

What Happens If There Are Power Outages On Election Day?

By • Oct 21, 2020
Voters cast ballots during early voting at the Franklin County Board of Elections.
Jo Ingles / Ohio Public Radio

On Election Day two years ago, wind gusts knocked out power for at least part of the day in four Northeast Ohio counties. What happens if there are more power outages on Election Day this year when voter turnout is expected to be higher than usual?

Ohio Presidential TV Ad Spending Changing In Final Days Before Election

By • Oct 21, 2020
Former Vice President Joe Biden (left) and President Donald Trump (right).
Associated Press

The TV ad presence between President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden and groups that support them has been fairly even in Ohio. However the final stretch shows the candidates are changing their spending plans for the state.

Letters From Home: "I Felt Proud To Cast My Vote Early"

By • Oct 21, 2020
A bowl of stickers for those taking advantage of early voting, Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Steubenville, Ohio.
Gene Puskar / Associated Press

WOSU's Letters from Home collects stories about our day-to-day lives during the era of COVID-19. This week, Ohioans share their voting experiences, from visiting the polls in person to casting their ballots absentee.

If There's No Election Night Winner, Don't Panic

By • Oct 21, 2020

The pandemic has changed a lot about how we vote this year, including when we may find out who won.

It's possible — because some rules have changed, and some haven't — that Nov. 3 could come and go without a clear answer as to who the next president will be.

Answering Your Questions About Voting In Ohio

By All Sides Staff • Oct 21, 2020
Voters cast their ballots using social distancing at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in Cleveland.
Tony Dejak / AP

The pandemic has upset the usual protocol for voting and created political fights out of logistical issues.

Voters have requested a record 2.7 million absentee ballots, many for the first time. The onslaught that has brought questions, confusion and errors.

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