On January 6, 2023, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 458, Ohio’s first photo ID voting requirement, which will require voters to show photo identification when voting in person, early, or on Election Day.
Along with the photo ID requirement, HB 458 also includes a package of additional voting law changes, including, but not limited to:
- County board of elections may only offer a single drop box for absentee ballots
- Elimination of early, in-person voting the day before Election Day
- Excludes county-issued veterans’ identification from the list of acceptable IDs one can use to vote
- Ending special elections in August
- Absentee ballot application deadline changed to seven days before Election Day, rather than the current three
Supporters of HB 458 claim that the bill will improve election integrity, while dissenters of the bill argue that HB 458 will only add more restrictions and difficulties for voters, especially those without current IDs, students, elderly and individuals with low incomes.
Want to learn more about HB 458? A summary of the bill from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission can be found here.
