Ohio state officials have finalized the language for Issue 3, a constitutional amendment that would add the state’s existing voter ID requirement to the state constitution. The amendment would require voters to present photo identification in order to vote, with accepted forms of ID including an Ohio driver’s license, U.S. passport, or military ID.

Voter ID Requirements

The amendment would not change Ohio’s rules for mail-in voting, which currently allow voters to provide an alternative form of ID, such as the last four digits of their Social Security number. In-person voters would be required to provide a government-issued photo ID, with the list of accepted IDs matching Ohio’s existing rules.

Republicans argue that the amendment is necessary to strengthen the state’s legal defense of its existing voter ID law, while Democrats call it unnecessary and an attempt to mobilize Republican voters. The amendment would make it harder for lawmakers to change or repeal the voter ID requirement in the future, requiring another statewide vote.

Ballot Language

The Ohio Ballot Board approved the ballot language for Issue 3, with a 4-1 vote. The language includes four bullet points that describe what the amendment does, including requiring voters to present photo identification and specifying the types of government-issued IDs that are accepted.

Democratic state Sen. Bill DeMora voted for the ballot language, saying that Republicans accepted his suggested changes. However, state Rep. Terrence Upchurch, a Cleveland Democrat, voted against the language, arguing that it could confuse voters.

Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.