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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Vetoes Bill Requiring Photo ID to Mail-in Vote
DeWine said the bill would add burdens for absentee voters and create unfunded costs for election boards, while election officials warned of implementation problems.
On Wednesday, Governor Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 472, rejecting Republican legislation that would have required mail-in voters to provide photo identification beginning in 2027.
The GOP-majority legislature fast-tracked the heavily amended bill before summer recess, transforming legislation originally intended to waive ID fees for homeless residents into a mandate requiring mail-in voters to submit photo identification.
League of Women Voters of Ohio Executive Director Jen Miller praised the veto, saying it prevented an "unfunded mandate" that would have burdened election officials and disproportionately impacted seniors and voters lacking technology access.
Republican state senator Jerry Cirino expressed disappointment, arguing the bill would have strengthened election integrity, while the legislature retains the power to override the veto with a three-fifths vote before December.
Currently, Ohio requires photo ID for in-person voting and Election Day ballots, while mail-in voters verify identity using Social Security numbers or driver's license numbers. Voters will decide in November whether to enshrine voter ID requirements in the Ohio Constitution.