Overview
- Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 472 on Thursday, saying the law would create burdens for absentee voters and would not meaningfully reduce fraud.
- The proposal, added late as an amendment to a bill about fee waivers for people experiencing homelessness, would have required voters to submit a copy or photo of a driver’s license or state ID when requesting or returning absentee ballots and to use a new secure online portal.
- The Ohio Legislative Service Commission and the bipartisan Ohio Association of Election Officials warned the plan would force the Secretary of State to build or contract for a secure portal and impose significant, unfunded costs on county boards of elections.
- Republican leaders, candidates, and conservative groups criticized the veto and said they may seek an override, but several GOP lawmakers have expressed reservations and the legislature is recessed until after the November election.
- The veto does not affect a separate GOP-backed constitutional amendment to enshrine in-person photo ID on the November ballot, which remains on track and could shape future efforts to extend ID rules to other forms of voting.