COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans will vote Aug. 8 on State Issue 1, deciding whether to make it harder for future amendments to the state constitution pass.

State Issue 1, if voters approve it, would amend the state constitution to require future amendments to get a 60% supermajority in a statewide vote in order to pass. That’s compared to the current 50% simple majority standard that’s been in place for more than a century.

It also would make it harder for potential ballot issues to qualify by tightening mandatory signature-gathering requirements for amendment campaigns. Voting “yes” on the issue would approve the change.

Ohio has debated making it harder to amend the constitution for years. But Republicans fast-tracked State Issue 1 specifically to try to foil a push to ask voters in November to enshrine legal protections for abortion in the state constitution.

Ohio hasn’t held a statewide election on a ballot issue in almost 100 years, and last year’s unexpected and unprecedented August primary election to fill state legislative seats saw historically low voter turnout. So there’s a good chance many Ohioans aren’t familiar with how to vote in August.

Here’s some quick information to help you vote this August.

How do I register to vote in Ohio?

You have options. Voters can register online at the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office website. If you’re already registered to vote, it’s a good idea to check your registration to make sure it’s up to date. You can do that online, too.

To do either online, you will need to provide your:

• Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number
• Name
• Date of birth, Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number
• Current address
• Last four digits of your social security number

Ohioans also can register to vote by mail. Here is a form you can print from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office. You also can register in person at the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, at your county board of elections, at Ohio BMV offices, public high schools or vocational schools, public libraries and any number of county government offices.

When is the deadline to register for the Aug. 8 election?

July 10 is the deadline to register, or update your registration.

Once I’ve registered, what are my options to cast a ballot?

Voters can either vote early, by mail or in person, or on Election Day.

How do I get an absentee ballot?

You have fill out a form to request a mail ballot, also called an absentee ballot, and return it to the board of elections office in your county. You have to provide the same information you do when you register to vote or update your registration.

You can request a form online at the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office. Or, Ohioans also can print this absentee ballot request form.

County boards of election also provide their own forms, such as this form from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

Any of those forms will work. But they have to be returned to the county board.

County elections offices will accept absentee ballot requests early. But they can’t mail ballots to voters until July 11. As of Tuesday, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has received and processed 2,393 absentee ballot requests, according to Tony Perlatti, the county elections director.

Are there common mistakes people make on the forms?

There are several. Voters filling out the form must provide their date of birth. Some voters incorrectly write in today’s date when they do that.

Some people also forget to mark the correct election date. For this election, you have to mark “special election,” and fill out the month and year, August 2023.

Some people also forget to sign the form and date it.

Is there a deadline to submit that?

The deadline to submit your absentee ballot request form is Tuesday Aug. 1. County boards of elections offices must have your form by the close of business that day, 8:30 p.m.

What’s the best way to submit an absentee ballot once I have it?

That’s up to you. But it has to go back to the board of elections office in your county. Here is a list of locations. You can either mail it, hand-deliver it during business hours, or drop it off in the secure drop box located outside each county board of elections office.

If you can’t hand-deliver your ballot yourself, only what the state considers to be a “near relative” can bring it to the county board of elections for you. A near relative is the voter’s spouse or the voter’s father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister of the whole or half blood, or the son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece.

When do I have to return my absentee ballot?

If you’re returning it by hand, you must bring it to your county board of elections office by the time polls close on Election Day at 7:30 p.m. Note, you can’t deliver your completed absentee ballot at your polling place.

If you’re returning it by mail, it must arrive at your county board of elections office by Saturday, Aug. 12, as long as it is postmarked by Monday, Aug. 7.

How do I vote early in person?

Early, in-person voting begins on July 11. You must travel to your county board of elections office during business hours in order to do that.

Like voting on Election Day, voters who vote early and in-person must bring photo ID with them.

What are acceptable forms of ID?

Acceptable forms of ID are an Ohio driver’s license, the free Ohio identification card the state began offering as part of the photo ID requirement, a temporary ID issued by the BMV, a passport or passport card, or a U.S. or state military ID.

While some states accept them, college IDs are not acceptable in Ohio

When does in-person early voting happen?

For the first, second and third weeks of early voting (July 11-28), early-voting hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For the fourth and final week of early voting, (July 31-Aug. 6), early-voting hours are:

Monday, July 31: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 1: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 2: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 3: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 4: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 5: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 6: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

How do I know where to go to vote early in person?

Go to the board of elections office in your county. Here is a list of locations.

What if I want to vote on Election Day? Can I just do it the old-fashioned way?

Yes. Most Ohioans still vote on Election Day.

How do I know where to vote on Election Day?

Check with the board of elections office in your county. You can also search online here.

When will polls be open?

Polls are open on Election Day, Aug. 8, from 6:30 a.m. through 7:30 p.m.

What if I request an absentee ballot and change my mind or forget to return it?

As long as you haven’t filled it out and returned it, you can still vote early and in-person.

Those going to vote early and in person can bring their blank ballots with them, and elections workers are required to try to collect them so they can be destroyed. But voters don’t have to bring them, under guidance issued in 2020 by Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

You also can still vote in-person on Election Day. But you’ll have to cast what’s called a provisional ballot, which means your vote won’t be counted for days while elections workers verify you aren’t trying to vote twice.

Do I have to declare a political party when I vote?

No. The State Issue 1 election is a nonpartisan election.

What if I have another question?

You can email me at atobias@cleveland.com.

Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer