Ohio advocates demand governor veto ‘confusing, misguided’ mail voting restrictions

Ohio voting advocates are calling on Gov. Mike DeWine (R) to veto a bill creating new mail voting restrictions that would go into effect for the 2027 elections.

The Ohio Voter Rights Coalition — a network that includes groups like the League of Women Voters of Ohio, Common Cause Ohio and the ACLU of Ohio — argues the measure will make it harder for Ohioans to vote and simultaneously create new identity theft and privacy concerns. 

It will also force election officials to establish a new voter verification system without dedicated state funding for the project, the coalition said. 

DeWine has until Wednesday to veto or sign the measure, known as HB 472. If he takes no action, it will go into effect. 

An original, bipartisan version of the bill made it easier for unhoused Ohioans to obtain ID documents. But this month, Republican lawmakers made last-minute changes adding unrelated restrictions for absentee voting.

The bill requires the Ohio Secretary of State’s office to create an online portal for voters to submit applications for absentee ballots. It also requires voters to verify their identity by either submitting photo ID to the online portal or sending a copy of their ID in the mail. Any voter who cannot provide photo ID when applying must enclose a copy of photo ID in the absentee ballot’s return envelope or present ID when delivering the ballot in person.

That could lead to a spike in scams and identity theft, Collin Marozzi, advocacy director of the ACLU of Ohio, warned.

“If HB 472 becomes law, twice a year, up to a million Ohioans will be required to mail a copy of their unredacted photo ID — and a public list of exactly who did so will be available to anyone who wants it,” he argued in an opinion piece.

Catherine Turcer, executive director of Common Cause Ohio, told lawmakers earlier this month that the new restrictions amount to a “confusing, misguided” attempt to prove voter eligibility. 

“The proposed ‘solutions’ do nothing but create obstacles for voters, destabilize county election procedures and put Ohioans’ personal information at risk,” Turcer said, adding that the rushed changes had not been sufficiently considered or debated.