Ohio Proof of Citizenship Requirement Challenge

A pro-voting lawsuit challenging an Ohio law requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. 

Background

Red Wine & Blue and the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans are suing Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) over House Bill 54, a new law that requires voter registration applicants to provide unspecified, additional proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Plaintiffs argue that HB 54 violates Section 5 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by imposing a proof-of-citizenship requirement that exceeds the federal standard, which allows only the minimum information necessary to determine voter eligibility. They further argue that the law violates Section 8 of the NVRA by requiring additional proof of citizenship beyond sworn attestation and by failing to implement the policy in a uniform manner across the state. Finally, plaintiffs argue that HB 54 is unconstitutionally vague in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. They seek a court order blocking enforcement of the law. 

Why It Matters

Nearly 30% of Ohio voters register to vote through the BMV, making it a critical access point to the democratic process. Yet HB 54 creates a significant barrier by requiring additional proof of citizenship — documents that many eligible U.S. citizens do not have readily available. This burden falls especially hard on women whose legal names have changed through marriage or divorce, and on young people, particularly students, who often store important documents with family for safekeeping. Because most Americans don’t keep citizenship paperwork on hand, HB 54 risks disenfranchising thousands of eligible voters, especially those with limited resources or inconsistent access to official documentation.

Latest Updates

• Nov. 20, 2025: The court denied the RNC’s motion to intervene as a defendant.
• Sept. 24, 2025: The RNC filed a motion to intervene as a defendant.
• Aug. 22, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their complaint.