Did you know Ohio has a new voter ID law?
Did you know Ohio has a new voter ID law? This law has the potential to affect how many Ohioans vote. Ohio Governor Mike Dewine signed the law on January 6, 2023, and it went into effect in April. Governor Dewine regarding the new law stated, “Election integrity is a significant concern to Americans on both sides of the aisle across the country. At the same time, I have long believed that Ohio does a good job of administering elections, as we have provided ample opportunities to cast votes while avoiding the problems we have seen in recent federal elections in other states.” Many organizations, including the League of Women Voters, have released statements voicing opposition to the new law. Previously, Ohioans did not need a photo ID to vote, only proof of residence–this included non-photo IDs and documents. Learn more and make sure you and your friends, family members, coworkers and neighbors are prepared to VOTE on November 7.
Compiled by Women of Cincy Staff.
Source:https://www.fox19.com/2023/04/03/new-ohio-voter-id-law-go-into-effect-friday-everything-you-need-know/
Source: https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/governor-dewine-signs-bills-into-law
Ohio will require voters who are voting in-person (both early voting and Election Day voting) to show a photo ID.
Accepted forms of photo ID:
An unexpired Ohio driver's license (old address acceptable)
A DMV-issued photo ID (including free voter IDs – see below.)
A U.S. Military, U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs, or Ohio National Guard ID
An unexpired U.S. passport book or card
Unaccepted forms of ID:
Social security number (except for mail-in voting)
A copy of a photo ID
An Ohio college or university photo ID
Government documents
Utility bills, bank statements, or paychecks
Source: https://www.lwvohio.org/ohiovotingchanges
A person with a religious objection to being photographed can be exempt from using a photo ID to vote. They can vote with the last four digits of their social security number during early voting or on Election Day. They must sign the Affidavit of Religious Objection. The affidavit and vote will be void if the voter is found to have a currently unexpired photo ID.
Source: www.lwvohio.org/ohiovotingchanges
What are reactions to the new voting law?
“We’re standing here today trying to find a “solution” to a problem that did not exist. This will create a “solution” where a lot more people will not be able to vote.” – Ohio House Representative, Cecil Thomas
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-CgTM9RY0Y
“HB 458 does not add any additional security to the voting process. Peer-reviewed studies have proven that voter ID laws do nothing to deter actual voter fraud, and there was no widespread voter fraud happening in Ohio in the first place under the original legislation.” –Meredith Perkins, Opinion Contributor, Cincinnati Enquirer.
“Ohioans are clearly supportive of strict photo ID for voting, and we have found a common-sense way to make it happen that ensures voters are not disenfranchised.” –Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State.
“Black and brown communities have higher numbers of those communities who don’t have ID. This is gonna impact Black and brown voters, students, rural voters, military voters, seniors. I mean, there’s really everyone who’s gonna be impacted by these substantial changes.” –Camille Wimbish, Election Administration Director at Ohio Voice.
Source:www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/18/activists-sue-ohio-republican-voting-access-restrictions
[On free voter IDs to vote] “Free is a questionable term. The time it takes to take off work to go to the [motor vehicle office], get in line for one, who qualifies for one. Then, of course, like what if you don’t have the underlying documents that you need.” –Camille Wimbish, Election Administration Director at Ohio Voice.
Source:www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/18/activists-sue-ohio-republican-voting-access-restrictions
What else does the new voting law say?
The new Ohio voting law now requires a photo ID to vote. However, the law also includes more restrictions on mail-in and curbside voting. Any registered Ohio voter may request and vote an absentee mail-in ballot without stating a reason.
You will need to send in an 11-A form to vote by mail. You can complete and send in an 11-A form online. An 11-A form is an application with proof of identification. You can use the last four digits of your social security number to vote by mail without a photo ID.
Mail-in and Absentee Voting
New Deadline to Apply for and return a Mail-In Ballot
The deadline to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot is:
Six days before Election Day. The previous deadline was three days before Election Day.
You will need to deliver your mail ballot in person:
At your local Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on Election Day
OR
Send it by mail via USPS:
The ballot must be postmarked by the day before Election Day AND received by the fourth day after Election Day. Previously, it could be received by the tenth day after Election Day.
Source: https://www.boe.ohio.gov/medina/election-info/absentee-voting/
Accessible Absentee Mail-In Ballot
Any Ohio voter with a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request an absentee ballot in an accessible format on any device.
With an accessible ballot, the voter can use necessary assistive technology.
Requests for this type of ballot begin on January 1 of the election year or 90 days before the election.
Accessible ballots must be printed and returned to your county board of elections via mail or in person.
Source:https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/voters-with-disabilities/Votingfaqs/
Hospitalization
If an individual or their minor child has an unforeseeable hospitalization after the mail-in voting application deadline, they may request a special absentee ballot.
Source:https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/voters-with-disabilities/special-circumstances/
New Requirements for Curbside Voting
Curbside Voting is now more prohibitive and only available to voters who are “physically unable to enter the polling place.” However, a disability claim cannot be contested by an election official. In a letter regarding this change to curbside voting to the Ohio Secretary of State the ACLU of Ohio stated, “Curbside voting should be available to anyone who faces difficulty or danger voting within the polling place because of a disability on the day in question.”
Source:https://www.lwvohio.org/ohiovotingchanges
Curbside In-Person Voting
Ohio voters with physical disabilities who are unable to enter a polling station are eligible to vote for curbside voting.
If voting early, arrangements must be made with the early voting location prior to arrival.
If voting on election day, someone may enter the polling location on your behalf and inform the poll workers that you wish to vote curbside.
Source:https://www.lwvohio.org/ohiovotingchanges
Voter resources
If you need a photo ID, individuals 17 and older can acquire a free state ID from their local BMV. Both salaried and hourly employees are allowed and cannot be fired for taking a reasonable amount of time off work to vote in Ohio. Hourly workers might not be compensated for the time they took to vote. For salaried employees, employers cannot deduct hours spent to vote from an employee’s pay.
If voters experience a problem while trying to vote, they can call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español).
You can volunteer to register people to vote here!
You can volunteer as a poll worker here!