The Board of Elections is responsible for ensuring fair, accurate, and timely elections at primary, general, and special elections. These responsibilities include the assurance that adequate supplies of ballots and absentee voter materials are available for elections and that provisions are made for candidates to declare their candidacy based on the time frame established by the Ohio Revised Code. The office also receives petitions for nominations, checks signatures and addresses for validity, and monitors campaign expenses to ensure compliance with the law.

Elections are administered in each county by a four-member board of elections which consists of two Republicans and two Democrats appointed by the Ohio Secretary of State at the recommendation of each county party. The board employs a director, who must be of the opposing political party of the chairman of the board of elections, and a deputy director, who must be of the political party of the chairman of the board.