COLUMBUS, Ohio — Election officials are gearing up for the August special election. The election is a week away, and officials are warning people to triple check their poll locations.

Some voters statewide will not be voting at their normal polling location because of those locations being previously booked. Many poll locations are public libraries, schools, churches and even park shelters. 

What You Need To Know

• Election officials gear up to provide accurate voting information to Ohioans 

• In Franklin County is getting rid of 27 poll locations this August


• Poll locations could be public libraries, churches, schools and even park shelters


• Franklin County has created new temporary locations and sent mail letting people know of the poll location changes

Franklin County will not be using 27 poll locations and has to redirect nearly 65,000 people to temporary locations. 

"We took the folks in those precincts and locations and moved them temporarily into the closest location that they could get to," said Aaron Sellers, the public information officer at Franklin County Board of Elections. 

Sellers explained the changes have led to more communication across the county. 

At the moment, Franklin County has created signs to place at locations not being used. The board has also sent mail explaining the changes and placed changes on the website. Similar changes have happened statewide, including Defiance County, in Northwest Ohio.

"We did send out postcards to over 4,000 people that were affected," Tonya Wichman, Director of Elections Defiance County. "We've been trying to reach out with social media, newspaper articles, anything we can reach in public." 

Wichman explained a temporary location was established in place of the original location. However, Defiance County does not have enough poll workers. Wichman told Spectrum News that the switch was done because of bible school, and churchgoers agreed to redirect crowds if Ohioans go to the original locations. 

Meanwhile, Ohioans need to be aware of the new voter ID requirement laws. People need to head to the polls with a state-issued photo ID. Many people expect a high turnout; it's the little things that will help election day go smoothly.
 
"This year, we're seeing numbers that are much closer to what we typically see for a gubernatorial primary or even a gubernatorial general election," said Aaron Ockerman, executive director of the Ohio Association of Election Officials.