(COLUMBUS) - Republican lawmakers in Ohio have introduced resolutions that would place a voter photo identification requirement into the state constitution.
House Joint Resolution 9 and Senate Joint Resolution 10 were introduced this week. If approved by a three-fifths majority in both legislative chambers, the proposed amendment would appear on the November ballot for voters to consider.
Supporters say the measure is intended to strengthen election security and voter confidence.
"This is about fair and free elections," said State Sen. Jane Timken, R-Jackson Township. "Voters need to know that when someone goes to vote, that it is the actual person who is registered to vote, and we do that by photo ID."
Under the proposal, voters would be required to present a valid photo ID when voting in person. Acceptable forms of identification would include driver's licenses, state identification cards, passports and certain military or veteran identification cards.
Voters without photo identification could cast a provisional ballot and later verify their identity at a board of elections office for the ballot to be counted.
Supporters noted Ohio already has a voter ID law that was enacted in 2022 and implemented in 2023. The proposed amendment would place that requirement in the state constitution.
State Sen. Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson, compared the proposal to identification requirements used in other situations.
"If you want to rent a car, you want to go to a hotel, get on an airplane, you need to show photo ID," Roegner said. "It makes all the sense in the world that when we're talking about something as serious and as important as the integrity of our elections, that it would also require a photo ID."
Opponents argue the amendment is unnecessary because Ohio law already requires identification for voting.
State Rep. Phil Robinson, D-Solon, said Ohio already has "some of the most restrictive election laws" and questioned the need for the proposal.
State Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, also criticized the measure, saying election fraud is rare.
Some opponents have expressed concerns that placing voter identification requirements in the constitution could make future changes to election laws more difficult.
Ohio Senate leaders have indicated they hope to advance the proposal in mid-June. If approved by both chambers, the amendment would go before voters statewide in November.