An issue already enshrined in Ohio law could soon become a permanent fixture of the state constitution. But will voters approve the change this November?
What is approved photo identification?
- A driver’s license or state identification card
- A U.S. passport or passport card
- A U.S. military identification card, an Ohio national guard identification card or an identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs or its successor agency
Ohio voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to make the state’s existing voter photo identification requirement part of the Ohio Constitution.
If passed, State Issue 3 would require approved photo ID to vote in person and establish identification requirements for other voting methods, including absentee voting.
Ohio already requires voters to present an approved photo ID to vote in person.
However, this proposal would move the requirement from state law into the constitution, making it harder for lawmakers to change.
Supporters say the amendment would protect election integrity, while opponents have raised concerns about potential barriers to voting.
The proposed constitutional amendment requires a majority ‘yes’ vote to pass. The ballot measure would be added to Section 5 of Article V of the Ohio Constitution.
What a vote ‘yes’ means
A ‘yes’ vote would add the requirements to state constitution and make them more difficult to change.
What a vote ‘no’ means
A ‘no’ vote would leave the existing statutory voter ID law in place without adding the proposed constitutional amendment.
Here’s what supporters say
Fred Dailey, chairman of the Knox County Republican Party, said the party supports State Issue 3.
“The Ohio Republican Party, the Knox County Republican Party (is) supportive of Issue 3. We’re encouraging everyone to vote yes on that issue,” Dailey said.
Ohio Republican lawmakers originally introduced Ohio Issue 3 in May, and it passed through the Ohio Statehouse in June.
“Since it’s already required, I don’t see a lot of change coming out of their other than if somebody came in and tried to misrepresent themselves,” Dailey said.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed the initial state voting restrictions into law Jan. 6, 2023 under the belief it would “shore up election security and protect against fraud,” according to a press release.
“Nationwide, there has been voter fraud,” Dailey said when asked for specific evidence to support his argument.
Homeland Security Investigations arrested 160 individuals for noncitizen voter fraud between January 2025 and September 2026, according to the Associated Press.
“(Ohio has) a fairly good system compared to some other states. We want to keep it that way. We want to maintain the integrity,” Dailey said.
Here’s what opponents say
Kathy Tate, chairwoman of the Knox County Democratic Party, said the party opposes State Issue 3.
“The amendment is already there in law. We don’t really need a constitutional amendment,” Tate said.
Tate said placing the requirements in the Ohio Constitution would limit the state’s flexibility to adjust its voting laws in the future.
She said that any changes to the constitutional requirements could require another amendment, putting the decision back in voters’ hands and potentially adding costs.
Tate also said the level of fraud associated with voter identification does not warrant enshrining the requirements into the constitution.
“If you take a look at how much fraud there has been because of identification, the percentages aren’t there,” Tate said.
