Artwork by Morgan Trau, WEWS.
Issue 3 asked Ohioans whether the current voter photo ID requirement should be written into the state constitution. While Republicans say it’s good policy, Democrats and Libertarians say the constitutional amendment is only meant to unite the GOP base.
The three candidates for Ohio Secretary of State are divided on this amendment.
What is the applicable law?
Ohio law already requires voters to show up ID card with photo when casting your vote in person. Acceptable forms include a valid Ohio driver’s license, U.S. passport, or military ID. Voters can no longer exploit bank statements or utility bills.
The ID card must have a valid expiration date, a photo of the voter, and the voter’s name, which must substantially match the voter’s name as it appears on the voter roll or in the poll book.
Other acceptable forms of ID include an Ohio ID card, an Ohio BMV momentary identification form, a U.S. passport, an Ohio National Guard ID card, and a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.
What does a yes vote on issue 3 mean?
Voting “yes” on Issue 3 means you want to make it more challenging to change current voter ID requirements by enshrining them in the Ohio Constitution.
“We should protect elections here in Ohio,” said Robert Sprague, the Republican candidate for secretary of state.
A future General Assembly could repeal the law unless it is written into the constitution, supporters of the proposal argue.
The Ohio Constitution is the primary governing document that supersedes all other state policies. It can only be changed by the votes of the people.
The Ohio Revised Code contains all current laws that Ohio lawmakers pass and sign into law. It is regularly updated and changed by state lawmakers.
“I would like us to go back to in-person voting – that way everyone would have to show a photo ID,” Sprague said in an interview. “We know people are who they say they are.”
It is much more challenging to introduce a policy into the constitution or change it. In order for citizens to put the proposed amendment on the ballot, they must collect hundreds of thousands of valid signatures from across the state.
For lawmakers to propose an amendment, support is required from 60% of the members of each chamber. Issue 3 was put to a vote by supermajority Republican lawmakers. For the amendment to become part of the state constitution, voters must still pass it.
Changes to the Ohio Revised Code either require significantly fewer signatures to be collected for proposed legislation to be considered by voters, or the bill can be passed by a basic majority vote in the Legislature.
If the legislature enacts a law that is inconsistent with the Constitution, it is up to the judiciary to uphold the Constitution.
Both President Donald Trump and GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy campaigned for No. 3’s passage.
“I think Ohioans will support this,” Sprague said.
Trump has been advocating for stricter voting laws across the country for years. He is currently advocating for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which, among a number of other significant changes, would require a photo ID to vote.
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Ohio, even if photo ID wasn’t the law. Thousands of audits have confirmed this.
What does a “no” vote on issue number 3 mean?
Voting “no” on Issue 3 means you don’t want to add the current requirements to the state constitution and instead keep them in the Revised Code.
Allison Russo, the Democratic nominee for secretary, believes the amendment is on the ballot for political reasons.
“It speaks to the desperation we see from Republicans in this state,” Russo said in an interview. “They are clearly concerned about the November election.”
Republican strategists acknowledged there are concerns about the GOP this year.
“We may have a turnout problem,” GOP strategist Bob Clegg said, adding that there could be “lowered turnout.”
This isn’t the first time the Republican Party has turned on the “vote squeezer” some opponents he said.
In 2022, the next midterm year, Republicans put a proposal on the ballot that would ban noncitizens from voting in all Ohio elections. Noncitizens could no longer vote in state or federal elections.
“Instead of addressing the real issues of everyday Ohioans, they are turning to red meat issues that may or may not have any impact in November,” Russo said.
She supports photo ID, but it’s the law, so she said it was a waste of time.
“Our photo ID requirements that we currently have are the strictest in the country,” she added.
Republicans deny it is an attempt to raise turnout, saying it is simply good politics.
Tom Pruss, the candidate’s Libertarian secretary of state, opposes the amendment, calling it “political theater.”
“Our election laws should not be crafted in response to nationwide fear-mongering, cable news debates, or baseless claims designed to incite voter anger and fear,” Pruss said.
(*3*)
Some conservative activists also oppose the proposal, arguing it doesn’t go far enough because it doesn’t require voter ID for absentee ballots.
In trying to get Issue 3 passed by the Legislature and put it on the ballot, Republicans couldn’t get enough votes.
To get the 60 voters needed, the GOP amended an unrelated bill to require photo ID for absentee ballots. Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the measure, noting that it contained many errors and could disenfranchise voters.
Pruss raised the fact that the constitutional amendment does not apply to absentee or mail-in voting, citing concerns about what a future General Assembly might do.
“This gives partisan lawmakers significant power to later restrict mail-in voting, which could impact seniors, military personnel, voters with disabilities, rural residents, shift workers and others who cannot easily vote in person,” Pruss said.
Why is this “Issue 3?”
Beginning in November 2024, Ohio began renumbering its state ballot proposals. Instead of renumbering each election, the numbers will not repeat until a state reaches number 500.
This was originally an issue in 2023. The first special election in August 2023 asked voters whether Ohio should take power away from the majority. Supporters, mostly Republicans, wanted people to vote yes.
However, in November 2023, issue 1 asked voters whether the right to reproductive freedom and abortion should be protected. Opponents, mostly Republicans, wanted people to vote no.
So for the GOP in August it was “Yes on 1”, in November “No on 1” and vice versa for the Democrats.
Under this fresh plan, No. 1 is the November 2024 redistricting proposal. No. 2 is the May 2025 bond proposal. Currently, No. 3 is the November 2026 voter ID amendment.
Follow WEWS House of Representatives reporter Morgan Trau X AND Facebook.
This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and are published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication on other news outlets because it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.
