Issue 3Constitutional amendment · Put on the ballot by lawmakers
Put photo ID rule in constitution
Explain it like I'm 5
Ohio already requires photo ID for in-person voting. This measure would move that rule from an ordinary law into the state constitution, like carving a school rule into stone.
Yes vote
Adding photo ID requirements for voting to the Ohio Constitution, with exceptions and rules for other voting methods set out in the amendment or state law.
No vote
Leaving Ohio's photo ID requirements in ordinary state law, where the legislature can change them.
The question to ask yourself
Should Ohio lock photo ID rules into its constitution, or let lawmakers change them as circumstances change?
The case for
- Supporters say constitutional protection prevents future lawmakers from repealing or weakening photo ID rules.
- Supporters say government photo ID helps confirm voter identity and increases confidence in elections.
- Supporters say the amendment preserves exceptions for voters who cannot provide standard photo identification.
Backed by: Republican Party of Ohio, Ohio General Assembly Republican majority, America PAC
The case against
- Ohio already requires photo ID for in-person voting, so opponents say the amendment addresses no new problem.
- A constitutional list of acceptable identification could be difficult to update as documents and voting technology change.
- Opponents say strict ID rules may burden eligible voters who lack an approved document, while impersonation fraud is rare.
Opposed by: Democratic Party of Ohio, ACLU of Ohio, Common Cause Ohio, Ohio Citizen Action
- Money
- No direct tax change or implementation cost was estimated in the sources reviewed.
- Don't be misled
- It is misleading to say Issue 3 creates Ohio's first photo ID rule, because photo ID has already been required for in-person voting since 2023; the major change is constitutional permanence.