Ohio Legislators Advance Voter ID Amendment and Mail-in Voting Law

The Ohio General Assembly ratified a resolution on June 10, 2026, to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would enshrine photo identification requirements for in-person voting. Although photo ID has been mandated by statute since 2023, the GOP-majority legislature seeks to codify the rule into the state constitution to prevent future legislative reversals. President Donald Trump publicly urged the House GOP to pass the measure, alleging that Democratic opposition was an attempt to facilitate cheating.

Simultaneously, lawmakers fast-tracked House Bill 472. Originally a bipartisan effort to provide free identification to homeless residents, the bill was modified via a substitute version to require voters to include a copy of their state-issued ID inside mail-in ballots starting in 2027. The modified bill now awaits a signature from Governor Mike DeWine.

Critics, including the League of Women Voters of Ohio and Democratic lawmakers, described the moves as political theater designed to increase Republican turnout while creating new barriers for marginalized voters. Some officials, including Secretary of State Frank LaRose, expressed concern that the legislation was rushed, potentially leading to unintended consequences and privacy risks regarding the upload of voter IDs to a state portal.

During the same marathon session, the House passed Katelyn's Law regarding murder statutes of limitations, a bill to mandate GPS monitoring for violent offenders, and a measure to implement chip-enabled EBT cards. However, legislation to regulate data centers collapsed due to disputes over tax incentives.