Why It Matters
Ohio lawmakers have approved legislation that would require absentee voters to submit a copy of their photo identification — a change that would affect how hundreds of thousands of Ohioans cast ballots beginning in 2027. The bill now awaits the signature of Gov. Mike DeWine, whose decision will determine whether Ohio joins a growing number of states tightening absentee voting requirements.
What Happened
The Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 472, which mandates that voters provide a copy of a driver’s license or state-issued ID either when requesting an absentee ballot or when submitting one in person. The requirement takes effect with the November 2027 election.
The Ohio Senate approved the measure 23-10, with one Republican — Sen. Bill Blessing of Colerain Township — joining Democrats in opposition. The Ohio House then voted 60-34 to concur with changes the Senate made to the original legislation.
The bill was originally introduced by Reps. Christine Cockley, a Columbus Democrat, and Jodi Salvo, a Republican from Bolivar. It passed the House initially with just one dissenting vote. However, after the Ohio Senate General Committee revised the legislation, Cockley publicly distanced herself from the measure, asking that her name be removed from the bill. She said Senate Republicans had “hijacked” it and argued that “people experiencing homelessness should not be used as political leverage” — a reference to the original bill’s provision waiving birth certificate copy fees for homeless individuals, which was altered in the Senate.
By the Numbers
- 23-10: Senate vote approving the bill
- 60-34: House vote to concur with Senate changes
- November 2027: When the voter ID requirement for absentee ballots takes effect
- September 3, 2027: Deadline for the Secretary of State to launch a secure online portal for absentee ballot applications
- 6: Voter fraud indictments brought by then-Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost in 2024, drawn from roughly 600 referrals from the Secretary of State’s office
Provisions and Access Measures
To address concerns about voters who lack ready access to identification, the legislation requires several state agencies — including the Secretary of State’s office, county boards of elections, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and public libraries — to provide free copies of photo IDs to registered voters upon request.
The bill also directs the Secretary of State to build and launch a secure online portal for absentee ballot applications no later than September 3, 2027, ahead of the election cycle in which the ID requirement first applies.
Zoom Out
Ohio’s move fits within a broader national pattern of Republican-led state legislatures expanding ID requirements to absentee and mail voting, which became far more common after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted widespread expansions of mail ballot access. States including Georgia and Wisconsin have enacted or considered similar measures in recent years, typically drawing legal challenges from voting rights organizations.
Supporters of stricter absentee ID requirements often point to concerns about ballot integrity. In Ohio, former Attorney General Dave Yost secured six indictments in 2024 related to alleged voter fraud — individuals accused of casting ballots between 2008 and 2020 while not yet being U.S. citizens. Those cases originated from approximately 600 referrals submitted by the Secretary of State’s office.
Opponents argue that ID requirements for mail voting create barriers, particularly for elderly, disabled, or low-income voters who rely on absentee ballots.
What’s Next
The bill now goes to Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, for his signature or veto. DeWine has not publicly indicated his position on the measure. If signed, state agencies will have until the fall of 2027 to build out the infrastructure needed to comply, including the free ID copy program and the online application portal.
Legal challenges to Ohio’s absentee voter ID requirements are considered likely, consistent with litigation that has followed similar laws in other states. For the latest on Ohio political developments, see coverage of the former FirstEnergy executives facing a second state trial and a federal ruling over an Ohio lawmaker’s lawsuit involving the Kennedy Center.