Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has vetoed a bill that would have required voter ID for absentee ballots. The bill, known as House Bill 472, was passed by the Ohio legislature but was met with criticism from some voter rights groups.

Reaction to the Veto

Senate President and GOP lieutenant governor nominee Rob McColley called DeWine’s action disappointing, likening it to actions taken in Democrat-controlled states. McColley stated that photo ID laws are supported by a vast majority of Ohio voters and that the bill would have given Ohioans confidence in the security of their election system.

DeWine, however, said that the bill was not needed because Ohio already does an excellent job of running elections. He also noted that the Ohio Association of Election Officials, a trade group made up of Republican and Democrat state election officials, has said that the state’s elections are regarded as one of the most secure in the nation.

The veto drew praise from some voter rights groups, including Common Cause Ohio, which stated that the legislation was rushed and unnecessary.

DeWine also vetoed another bill, House Bill 173, which would have exempted companies that buy and resell electricity at a profit from being defined as public utility companies. DeWine thought the legislation should have included greater protections for consumers.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.