Gov. Mike DeWine rejected an effort by Ohio’s Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten the rules for mail-in voting.
DeWine vetoed legislation that would require photo ID to vote absentee starting in 2027. GOP lawmakers fast-tracked the bill in their final session before summer break, despite concerns from local election officials.
“House Bill 472 would not discourage fraud, would not add any real security and would create an additional and significant burden for Ohioans who vote by mail,” DeWine wrote in his veto message. “This bill is not needed, because Ohio does an excellent job running elections.”
Under current law, Ohioans who vote by mail can provide a driver’s license or Social Security number in lieu of a photo ID. House Bill 472 would have required those voters to provide a copy of their photo ID, either by mail, in person or through an online application portal.
The bill carved out exceptions for military and overseas voters and people with disabilities, mobility limitations or severe medical conditions. It also allowed voters to opt out if they could claim any other “material obstacle” to obtaining a photo ID.
Critics said the proposal was rushed and could confuse voters and burden election officials. Senate Republicans added the change to a bill intended to waive ID fees for people experiencing homelessness.
“We commend Gov. DeWine for his wise veto of hastily written legislation that would have surely backfired,” said Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. “Because of his leadership, elections officials won’t have to face another unfunded mandate, and Ohioans can continue to freely and fairly vote absentee in the Buckeye State.”
Lawmakers passed House Bill 472 in tandem with a proposed amendment to put voter ID rules in the Ohio Constitution. The bill aimed to gin up support for the ballot measure among Republicans who oppose the current system for mail-in voting.
After signing Ohio’s 2023 voter ID law, DeWine said he considered election integrity to be a settled issue. He approved a bill in December to eliminate the grace period for mail-in ballots, an issue that could soon be addressed in a Mississippi case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lawmakers can override DeWine’s veto with a three-fifths vote in the House and Senate. Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers.
“Photo ID is a common sense, commonplace requirement in everyday life and the most trustworthy means of ensuring that a person is who they say they are,” said Treasurer Robert Sprague, who is running for Ohio secretary of state. “The legislation would have served as a significant deterrent to mail-in voter fraud and made Ohio elections more secure, which is the point.”
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@usatodayco.com or @haleybemiller on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gov. Mike DeWine vetoes bill to require photo ID for mail-in voting
Reporting by Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
