Vote Baby Vote: Helping Ohio Families Get Ready for the 2026 General Election
Ohio will elect a new governor in 2026, along with other state and congressional policymakers—and the decisions made by these leaders will shape early childhood policy and systems for years to come.
That’s why Groundwork Ohio is expanding Vote Baby Vote, our nonpartisan voter registration and civic engagement campaign designed to encourage families, caregivers, early childhood professionals, health care professionals, advocates, and communities get registered, make a plan, and vote in Ohio’s November 3 General Election.
At Groundwork Ohio, we work every day to make Ohio the best place to be a young child. We advocate for strong policies that support children, families, and the professionals who care for them. But policies don’t happen in a vacuum. They are shaped by the leaders we elect.
Young children can’t vote—but the adults who care for them can.
Mark the Important Dates
The first step is making sure you are registered and ready. Ohio’s voter registration deadline for the General Election is October 5.
Early in-person voting begins October 6, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 27, and early in-person voting ends November 1. Election Day is November 3, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Whether you plan to vote early in person, by absentee ballot, or at your polling location on Election Day, making a plan now can make it easier to follow through.
Visit the Vote Baby Vote page to find links to register to vote, find your early voting location, request an absentee ballot, find your Election Day polling location, and learn more about the campaign.
Help Your Community Vote: Download the Partner Toolkit
Organizations that work with Ohio families and communities have an important role to play, too. Groundwork Ohio created a new Vote Baby Vote Partner Toolkit to make it easy for organizations to share accurate, nonpartisan voter information with the people they serve.
The downloadable toolkit includes ready-to-use resources for each phase of the campaign, including:
Email and newsletter copy that organizations can share with their audiences.
Social media graphics and sample posts for voter registration, early voting, and Election Day.
Flyers focused on voter registration, early voting, and absentee voting, with versions designed for both early learning and maternal and young child health audiences.
Email banner images partners can incorporate into their own communications.
QR codes that connect directly to voter registration, early voting locations, absentee ballot requests, and Election Day polling locations.
Presentation slides that organizations can use at meetings, trainings, events, or other gatherings.
A printable hot card that makes it easy to put voting information directly into people’s hands.
Our Vote Baby Vote Coloring Page, which gives young children a way to add their voices to the conversation.
Partners can use as many—or as few—of these resources as make sense for their organization. Share a social post. Add a short reminder to your newsletter. Display a flyer. Put a slide on the screen before a meeting begins. Small actions across many organizations can help more Ohioans get registered, make a plan, and participate.
Elevating Ohio’s Youngest Voices
Ohio’s youngest children may not be able to cast a ballot, but their futures will be shaped by the decisions made by the leaders we elect.
Our Vote Baby Vote Coloring Page gives children a fun way to be part of the conversation. Families are invited to download the page, have their child write and/or draw what they would vote for, and take a photo of the completed page.
Send completed coloring pages to info@groundworkohio.org, and Groundwork Ohio may feature submissions on our social media channels as we elevate the voices of Ohio’s youngest children throughout election season.
Ready to Vote, Ohio?
Vote Baby Vote is nonpartisan. Groundwork Ohio does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Our goal is simple: ensure Ohioans have the information they need to participate in our democracy and encourage families and communities to make their voices heard.
This election season, we invite organizations across Ohio to join us. Download the toolkit. Share the resources. Encourage the families, professionals, and communities you work with to make a plan.
Because young children can’t vote—but we can show up for them.
