The voter shows his/her ID card to the election judge. (Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
Republican lawmakers in Ohio are trying to introduce a ballot constitutional amendment that would require voters to show photo ID to vote.
Lawmakers in the Ohio House and Senate introduced joint resolutions this week to add photo ID provisions to the Ohio Constitution.
Joint resolution of the House of Representatives 9 were introduced by Ohio Reps. Adam Bird, R-New Richmond, and Heidi Workman, R-Rootstown.
Joint resolution of the Senate 10 were introduced by state Sens. Jane Timken, R-Jackson Township, and Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green.
“This is about fair and free elections,” Timken said. “Voters need to know that when someone goes to vote, they are an actual person registered to vote, and we do so with a photo ID. This is overwhelmingly supported not only by Republicans but by Democrats as well.”
He showed the Pew Research Center 83% of Americans require support photo ID to vote.
“If you want to rent a car, if you want to go to a hotel, if you want to get on a plane, you have to show photo ID,” said state Sen. Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson.
“If you want to buy alcohol or even some medications, you need a photo ID. It makes all the sense in the world that when we’re talking about something as serious and important as the integrity of our elections, a photo ID would also be required.”
If an Ohio voter is unable to present a valid photo ID in person on Election Day, the joint resolutions will allow the voter to temporarily cast a ballot and present a photo ID to the board of elections before the ballot counting deadline.
For the resolutions to be adopted in the November vote, the support of three-fifths of the votes is required.
“I think voters will decide they want to protect him,” Bird said. “It is extremely popular.”
Ohio law already requires citizens to provide photo ID before voting thanks to: bill passed by MPs in 2022 and entered into force in 2023.
“We have some of the most restrictive voting laws,” said state Rep. Phil Robinson, D-Solon. “This bill is unnecessary”
A valid photo ID includes a valid driver’s license, state ID card, passport, U.S. Military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.
Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, said he hopes to pass the Senate resolution on June 10 or 17.
“(Joint resolutions are) in response to some voter integrity concerns that are emerging across the country,” McColley said.
McColley will run for lieutenant governor in November along with Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy said Ohio must write voter ID into the state constitution.
“Voter confidence in our electoral system is lower than it has been for some time, and I believe it is important that we offer voters the opportunity … to decide for themselves whether they want to put it in the constitution, offering the highest possible level of protection to safeguard the existing system that guarantees the fundamental right to vote … for future generations,” McColley said.
Hawaii AND Virginia there were laws regarding voter photo ID requirements, but these laws were repealed.
“When you see these types of examples in other states, it becomes imperative that we protect photo IDs in Ohio by putting them … in the constitution,” Bird said.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost brought this about six indictments for voter fraud in 2024 after receiving 600 reports of alleged voter fraud from the Ohio Secretary of State. The defendants were charged with voting on at least one occasion between 2008 and 2020, even though they were not U.S. citizens at the time.
“Voter fraud is extremely rare,” said Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood.
“I believe this is an attempt by Republicans to make the election go their way because by not doing something so extraordinary, instead of just appealing to voters based on their policies, they are actually limiting the number of people who can vote because they see that as their path to victory.”
Robinson is concerned that these joint resolutions could potentially prevent early voting or mail-in ballots.
“I don’t see how this would help Ohioans have their voices heard at the ballot box,” he said.
McColley, however, said there are no plans to get rid of early voting by mail or absentee voting in Ohio.
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