Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has vetoed a bill that would have required voters to show a photo ID when voting by mail. The bill, which was passed by Republican lawmakers, aimed to expand the state’s existing photo ID requirement for in-person voting to mail-in ballots.

Background

The bill was met with criticism from Democrats and voting rights groups, who argued that it would disproportionately affect certain groups of voters, such as senior citizens and low-income individuals. DeWine, a Republican, cited concerns over voter access and the potential for the bill to create unnecessary barriers to voting.

The vetoed bill would have allowed voters to submit a picture of their photo ID and a photo of their face when requesting a mail ballot online. Alternatively, voters could have provided an alternative form of ID, such as the last four digits of their driver’s license number, and then enclosed a copy of their photo ID with their completed mail ballot.

Reaction

Republican lawmakers expressed disappointment with DeWine’s veto, with some arguing that the bill was necessary to prevent voter fraud. However, voting rights groups and Democrats praised the governor’s decision, citing the potential for the bill to disenfranchise certain groups of voters.

A separate voter ID amendment, which would require voters to show a photo ID when voting in person, is set to appear on the ballot in November. DeWine’s veto does not affect this amendment, as governors do not have the power to veto proposed constitutional amendments.

Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.