State Issue 3: Require Photo Identification to Vote

The law today

Ohio already requires a photo ID to vote in person (in effect since 2023): an unexpired Ohio driver license or state ID, U.S. passport or passport card, or a military, Ohio National Guard or Department of Veterans Affairs ID. Voters casting mail ballots are exempt from the photo ID requirement and may instead provide an alternative such as the last four digits of their Social Security number. Issue 3 would put the in-person requirement in the constitution, so changing it would require another statewide vote.[4][6][8][11]

Arguments made for

• State Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond): "It’s a simple proposal that will give (voters) the opportunity to protect the foundations of our constitutional republic, that means free and fair elections. It is a straightforward question on the ballot to the voters — should Ohio’s elections be secured by government-issued photo ID requirements? These requirements ensure that we know that the person at the poll is who they say they are."[3]
• House Speaker Matt Huffman (R): "Protecting the integrity of our elections is essential to democracy. As a legislative body, we are committed to strengthening Ohio’s elections, which includes requiring Voter ID."[10]
• Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy: "Number one is it actually says you need a photo ID to vote, but number two is it also builds up our public trust in the democratic process." Democratic nominee Amy Acton also said she supports Issue 3.[4]

Arguments made against

• State Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington): "Our current form of photo identification and the laws that govern it are working as they were intended, yet many of my colleagues across the aisle have decided today that the urgent issue of the moment …. is to turn this existing law that is already working into a change in our constitution."[3]
• House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati): "We are spending all of our energy and time on putting something that is already the law as it relates to voter ID into the Constitution. It’s not going to change a single person’s life. … We already have safe and secure and stable elections."[3]
• ACLU of Ohio testimony on SJR 10: its opposition "is much less about the underlying policy issue of photo IDs for voters and much more about taking away valuable policy and legislative time to quickly place an unneeded constitutional amendment on the ballot for purely political reasons."[5]

On record in support

• Ohio Republican Party; party chairman Alex Triantafilou spoke at a pro-Issue 3 event with gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy and U.S. Sen. Jon Husted.[11]
• Sens. Jane Timken and Theresa Gavarone (R), the resolution’s sponsors; Gavarone said the amendment would set “a floor” so “future general assemblies won’t be able to go backwards.”[1][8]
• Ohio House Republicans, including Speaker Matt Huffman, who passed the resolution.[10]
• Vivek Ramaswamy (R), nominee for governor.[4]
• Amy Acton (D), nominee for governor, who said she will support it.[4]

On record in opposition

• Democratic state legislators: Sen. Bill DeMora said “every Democrat voted against this, in the House and the Senate”; DeMora and Rep. Terrence Upchurch said they oppose the amendment and would campaign against it. DeMora, Upchurch and Rep. Desiree Tims wrote the official arguments against.[8][6][11]
• ACLU of Ohio, which opposed SJR 10 in testimony.[5]
• Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, which announced its opposition.[11]
• Ohio Citizen Action, which announced its opposition.[11]
• Allison Russo (D) and Tom Pruss (Libertarian), candidates for Secretary of State.[11]
• Libertarian gubernatorial ticket of Don Kissick and James Mills.[4]