Ohioans soon will be required to provide a photo ID when voting by mail – a major change to a voting method that previously had been exempted from the strict voter ID requirement Republican lawmakers passed following the 2020 presidential election.Republican lawmakers unveiled the new photo ID requirement for mail voting on Tuesday, before swiftly approving it in the House and Senate the following day. The requirement would take effect ahead of the November 2027 election, so voting this year will remain unchanged.The new law, officially called House Bill 472, is one of two voter ID measures that Republicans fast-tracked this month. The House also approved Senate Joint Resolution 10 on Wednesday, a related measure which would amend Ohio’s constitution to add Ohio’s existing photo ID requirements for in-person voting.Approving SJR10 puts the amendment on the November ballot, where it requires voter approval to take effect. The measure will get an official name – almost certainly state Issue 3 – later this summer.
Republicans have described both voter ID measures as common-sense security measures that polling shows voters support.
“We want to make sure our voters have confidence in our elections, and photo ID is certainly an important step to doing just that,” said state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, a Bowling Green Republican.Democrats called the changes unnecessary, saying documented voter fraud is rare while also pointing out the photo ID requirement already was part of state law. In addition, they said the new photo ID requirement for mail voting was needlessly rushed, and accused Republicans of pursuing it as a way to increase turnout among base GOP voters this November.
