Ohio voters will decide Tuesday on Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require an unexpired, government-issued photo identification to cast a ballot in person.
Acceptable documents under the proposal would include an Ohio driver's license or state ID card, a U.S. passport or passport card, and military, Ohio National Guard or Veterans Affairs identification. State law could establish a different verification method for voters who hold a sincere religious objection to being photographed.
The requirement would reach beyond polling places. Absentee and other voters who do not cast ballots in person would also need photo ID, or, where state law permits, a signature combined with another unique identifier such as an ID number.
Mandy Amos, director of the Washington County Board of Elections, told WTAP that voters who cast ballots by mail would likely see the largest change, because in-person voters already present photo ID.
According to official arguments published by the Ohio Secretary of State's office, backers contend the amendment guards against voter fraud, strengthens confidence in elections and keeps the rules from shifting with changing political majorities; they also note that free state ID cards are available. Critics counter that voter impersonation is practically nonexistent, that photo ID is already required under state law, and that the measure leaves early and absentee voting unprotected while shutting out county-issued veterans IDs and digital IDs.
Issue 3 requires a simple majority to pass and would take effect immediately.