{"id":2613469,"date":"2026-06-11T18:09:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T22:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-adds-photo-id-requirement-for-mail-in-ballots\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T18:09:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T22:09:02","slug":"ohio-adds-photo-id-requirement-for-mail-in-ballots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-adds-photo-id-requirement-for-mail-in-ballots\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio adds photo ID requirement for mail-in ballots"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fohio-adds-photo-id-requirement-for-mail-in-ballots%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2613469&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ohio\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1141\">Ohio<\/a> lawmakers have approved legislation that would require absentee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/voter-id\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"162\">voters<\/a> to submit a copy of a photo ID when returning their ballots, a move <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"240\">Republicans<\/a> say will strengthen <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"452\">election<\/a> security but that critics argue could create new hurdles for voters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The law will take effect in time for the November 2027 elections.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4602240\/democratic-establishment-mcduffie-dc-mayor-union-lewis-george\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democratic establishment backs McDuffie for DC mayor, while unions bolster Lewis George<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4602344\/washington-post-scrutiny-trump-tone-shift\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>From resistance to reset? Washington Post faces scrutiny over Trump tone shift: Guy Benson<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4600248\/nrsc-refers-challenger-dan-sullivan-fec-campaign-scheme-oust-senator-same-name\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>NRSC refers challenger Dan Sullivan to FEC over campaign \u2018scheme\u2019 to oust senator with same name<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The measure, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/search-prod.lis.state.oh.us\/api\/v2\/general_assembly_136\/legislation\/hb472\/06_EN\/pdf\/\">House Bill 472<\/a>, is one of two election-related proposals Republicans advanced this month. The Ohio House also approved a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the state\u2019s existing photo ID requirements for in-person voting in the Ohio Constitution.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under current Ohio law, voters requesting an absentee ballot can verify their identity by providing information such as the last four digits of their <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/social-security\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"796\">Social Security<\/a> number or their driver\u2019s license number. The new legislation would largely preserve those requirements for requesting a ballot but add a new step when casting one. Voters would be required to include a copy of a valid photo ID, such as a driver\u2019s license, when mailing back their absentee ballot. Alternatively, they could hand-deliver the ballot and present a photo ID to election officials in person.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legislation would also create a new online absentee ballot application system. Ohio voters currently must obtain and complete a paper application to request a mail ballot. Under the proposal, the Ohio secretary of state\u2019s office would establish an online portal allowing voters to submit a request electronically by uploading a photo ID and a photograph of themselves.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several categories of voters would be exempt from the photo ID return requirement. Military members and overseas voters, people with severe medical conditions or disabilities, former inmates, and voters with sincere religious objections could continue verifying their identity using personal identifying information. Lawmakers also added exemptions for voters facing mobility limitations or other significant obstacles that prevent them from obtaining a photo ID or making a photocopy of one.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans have framed the changes as a way to align absentee voting with Ohio\u2019s existing photo ID requirements at polling places and boost public confidence in elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is important that all voters, regardless of how or where they vote, with few exceptions, show a photo ID when they vote to verify that they are indeed who they claim to be,\u201d GOP state Sen. Kristina Roegner said. \u201cConfidence and democracy depends on confidence in our voting process. Requiring photo ID is a great way to verify identity and strengthen public trust.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposal has also drawn criticism from election officials and Democrats, who warn it could make absentee voting more difficult, particularly for older Ohioans who rely on voting by mail.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis legislation will not prevent fraud and will make voting more difficult for groups, especially our seniors,\u201d said\u00a0Democratic Ohio state Sen. Willis Blackshear Jr.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opponents also questioned whether the new requirements address a significant problem. State officials have reported relatively few cases of voter fraud in Ohio. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cVoter fraud is incredibly rare, and when it does occur, usually it is not the result of someone attempting to impersonate another individual,\u201d Blackshear added. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\">TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE\u2019S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former Attorney General Dave Yost announced six voter fraud indictments in 2024 after his office reviewed roughly 600 referrals from the secretary of state\u2019s office. Those cases involved allegations that noncitizens cast ballots between 2008 and 2020.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill has been sent to the desk of Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-dewine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1201\">Mike DeWine<\/a> (R-OH) to be signed into law. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ohio lawmakers have approved legislation that would require absentee voters to submit a copy of a photo ID when returning their ballots, a move Republicans say will strengthen election security but that critics argue could create new hurdles for voters. The law will take effect in time for the November 2027 elections. Recommended Stories Democratic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2613470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274165284.jpg?w=594","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2613469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274165284.jpg?w=594","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2613469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613469\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2613470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2613469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2613469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2613469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}