Vetoed by Governor Mike DeWine

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires photo identification for absentee voting in Ohio.

Highlights:

• Requires a homeless shelter that stores a copy of an individual experiencing homelessness’ social security card, certification of birth, or certified copy of a birth record to do both of the following (Sec. 1):

• Retain possession of the physical or digital copy of the social security card, certification of birth, or certified copy of a birth record; and

• Establish a mechanism to protect the physical and digital copy by ensuring there is a physical or virtual lock protecting access to the copy.

• Requires a probate judge to waive all fees for copies of birth certificates, records of a name change, certified abstracts of marriage, or certificates of divorce/annulment/dissolution of marriage for individuals verified to be experiencing homelessness (Sec. 1).

• Requires fee waivers for identification cards issued to individuals experiencing homelessness (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a copy of an elector’s photo identification and image of an elector or of the elector’s photo identification submitted through the portal to be submitted to secretary of state or a board of elections (Sec. 1).

• Requires electors to provide photo identification to vote by mail beginning with the November, 2027 general election (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes certain exemptions from that requirement and provides alternative identification procedures (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an elector may satisfy the photo identification requirement by submitting it either when applying for a ballot or when returning the ballot to the local board of elections (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes an elector to show their photo identification at the local board of elections’ office or make a copy and submit it to the board (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Secretary of State, boards of elections, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, and public libraries to provide free copies of electors’ photo identification (Sec. 1).

• Requires the secretary of state to establish and maintain an online portal where an elector may submit an application for absent voter’s ballots, beginning September 3, 2027 (Sec. 1)

• Requires an applicant to submit the following into the portal (Sec. 1):

• Their name;

• The address at which they are registered to vote;

• Their date of birth;

• The election for which they are requesting an absent voter’s ballot;

• Their party affiliation;

• The address to which the ballots should be mailed; and

• Additional information and affirmations required under the applicable section.

• Requires the portal to accommodate applications submitted via a special form because of the applicant’s circumstances, including uniformed service members overseas (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires photo identification for absentee voting in Ohio.

Highlights:

• Requires a homeless shelter that stores a copy of an individual experiencing homelessness’ social security card, certification of birth, or certified copy of a birth record to do both of the following (Sec. 1):

• Retain possession of the physical or digital copy of the social security card, certification of birth, or certified copy of a birth record; and

• Establish a mechanism to protect the physical and digital copy by ensuring there is a physical or virtual lock protecting access to the copy.

• Requires a probate judge to waive all fees for copies of birth certificates, records of a name change, certified abstracts of marriage, or certificates of divorce/annulment/dissolution of marriage for individuals verified to be experiencing homelessness (Sec. 1).

• Requires fee waivers for identification cards issued to individuals experiencing homelessness (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a copy of an elector’s photo identification and image of an elector or of the elector’s photo identification submitted through the portal to be submitted to secretary of state or a board of elections (Sec. 1).

• Requires electors to provide photo identification to vote by mail beginning with the November, 2027 general election (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes certain exemptions from that requirement and provides alternative identification procedures (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an elector may satisfy the photo identification requirement by submitting it either when applying for a ballot or when returning the ballot to the local board of elections (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes an elector to show their photo identification at the local board of elections’ office or make a copy and submit it to the board (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Secretary of State, boards of elections, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, and public libraries to provide free copies of electors’ photo identification (Sec. 1).

• Requires the secretary of state to establish and maintain an online portal where an elector may submit an application for absent voter’s ballots, beginning September 3, 2027 (Sec. 1)

• Requires an applicant to submit the following into the portal (Sec. 1):

• Their name;

• The address at which they are registered to vote;

• Their date of birth;

• The election for which they are requesting an absent voter’s ballot;

• Their party affiliation;

• The address to which the ballots should be mailed; and

• Additional information and affirmations required under the applicable section.

• Requires the portal to accommodate applications submitted via a special form because of the applicant’s circumstances, including uniformed service members overseas (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text