Ohio Republican lawmakers send constitutional amendment requiring voter photo ID to ballot

Ohioans will vote in November on a constitutional amendment requiring photo ID to vote after state Republican lawmakers passed the ballot resolution Wednesday.

Ohio Republicans trying to get voter photo ID on the ballot, enshrined in state constitution

They introduced the proposal a few weeks ago.

Ohio law already requires citizens to provide photo identification before voting thanks to a bill the lawmakers passed in 2022 and took effect in 2023.

The Ohio House passed Senate Joint Resolution 10 61-27 during Wednesday’s marathon session. The resolution needed 60% of Ohio House members to approve the resolution, which the Ohio Senate easily passed last week.

“It’s a simple proposal that will give (voters) the opportunity to protect the foundations of our constitutional republic, that means free and fair elections,” said state Rep. Adam Bird, R-New Richmond. 

“It is a straightforward question on the ballot to the voters — should Ohio’s elections be secured by government-issued photo ID requirements? These requirements ensure that we know that the person at the poll is who they say they are.”

Democratic lawmakers said the law is already on the books and working.

“Our current form of photo identification and the laws that govern it are working as they were intended, yet many of my colleagues across the aisle have decided today that the urgent issue of the moment ….  is to turn this existing law that is already working into a change in our constitution,” said state Rep. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington.

Ohio House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, also pointed out the existing law. 

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“We are spending all of our energy and time on putting something that is already the law as it relates to voter ID into the Constitution,” he said. 

“It’s not going to change a single person’s life. … We already have safe and secure and stable elections.” 

The Pew Research Center showed 83% of Americans support requiring photo identification to vote. Critics argue Republicans want the amendment on the ballot to boost voter turnout, but Republican leaders deny that’s the case. 

Ohio Republican governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said Ohio must enshrine voter ID in the state constitution. 

Ohio state Sens. Jane Timken, R-Jackson Township, and Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, introduced the resolution a few weeks after Ramaswamy shared his stance on Ohio voter ID. 

A valid photo ID includes an unexpired driver’s license, state ID card, a passport, a U.S. military ID card, an Ohio national guard ID card, or an ID card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

If an Ohio voter is unable to provide a valid photo ID in person on election day, the joint resolutions would allow a voter to cast their ballot provisionally and provide photo ID at the board of elections by the deadline for their ballot to be counted.

Former Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost brought forth six indictments for voter fraud in 2024 after receiving 600 referrals of alleged voter fraud from the Ohio Secretary of State. The indicted were accused of voting at least once between 2008 and 2020 despite not being U.S. citizens then. 

Hawaii and Virginia had voter photo ID requirements laws, but those laws were repealed. 

Ohio Democratic lawmakers put forth a handful of amendments on the House floor, but they were not adopted. 

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on X or on Bluesky.

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