TO REQUIRE VOTERS TO PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION IN ORDER TO VOTE
ohiosos.gov returns 403 to curl; official documents taken from verbatim copies hosted by Signal Ohio and Dayton 24/7 Now (SOS-certified newspaper publication). Needs browser check of ohiosos.gov originals.
Ballot yes/no lines use straight quotes in certified ballot language and curly quotes in publication; text identical otherwise.
Dead link replaced: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/ballot-issues/ is 404 in a real browser (browser check 2026-10-10); replaced with https://www.ohiosos.gov/legislation-and-ballot-issues/ballot-board/ (current Ohio Ballot Board statewide-issues page per search index; SOS-hosted Issue 3 PDFs at ohiosos.gov/assets/certified-ballot-language-08-03-2026.pdf and /assets/2026-11-statewide-issue-3-report.pdf also 403 to curl). New URL is still bot-blocked to curl and has NOT yet been browser-verified.
Link fix merged 2026-10-10: NV/OH URL replaced with https://www.ohiosos.gov/assets/2026-11-statewide-issue-3-report.pdf — status bot_blocked_403; loads in real browser, verified 2026-10-10.
No official fiscal analysis for legislatively referred amendments in Ohio.
official_measure_url is the SOS ballot issues page (403 to curl).
GAP-FILL 2026-10-10: fiscal_impact quoted verbatim from Ohio Legislative Service Commission, S.J.R. 10 Final Fiscal Note & Local Impact Statement (June 11, 2026), "Highlights" (https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/sjr10/05_EN/attachments/fiscal_notes/). Single-sourced (one official document).
Proposed Constitutional Amendment TO REQUIRE VOTERS TO PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION IN ORDER TO VOTE Proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly To enact Section 5 of Article V of the Constitution of the State of Ohio A majority yes vote is required for the adoption of Section 5. This proposed amendment would: • Require voters to present an approved form of government-issued photo identification in order to vote. • Allow state law to provide for an alternative method of verifying a voter’s identity for a voter who has a sincere religious objection to being photographed and, therefore, does not possess an approved form of government-issued photo identification. • Require that voters who do not vote in person provide an approved form of government-issued photo identification, unless the law authorizes those persons to vote by providing a signature and at least one other specified unique identifier. • Define approved forms of government-issued photo identification as an unexpired Ohio driver license or state identification card; a United States passport or passport card; or a United States military identification card, Ohio National Guard identification card, or United States Department of Veterans Affairs identification card. If approved, the amendment shall take effect immediately. A "YES" vote means approval of the amendment. A "NO" vote means disapproval of the amendment. SHALL THE AMENDMENT BE APPROVED?
A "YES" vote means approval of the amendment.
A "NO" vote means disapproval of the amendment.
Issue 3 asks Ohio voters to consider an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio that was proposed by a three-fifths supermajority of the Ohio General Assembly. If approved, the proposed amendment would require Ohio voters to present a governmentissued photo identification in order to vote. To vote in person, voters would be required to present one of the specific types of government-issued photo identification listed. In-person voters who do not possess photo identification because of a sincere religious objection to being photographed would be permitted to provide an alternative verification of their identity, as provided by Ohio law. To vote by another method under Ohio law, such as absentee voting by mail, voters would be required to do one of the following: (1) provide specific types of government-issued photo identification, or (2) if authorized by Ohio law, present a signature and at least one other unique identifier authorized for voting purposes.
If the General Assembly adopts this joint resolution, the Secretary of State will incur ballot advertising costs related to placing the proposed changes to the Ohio Constitution on the statewide ballot for the November 3, 2026 general election. These costs will be paid from the Statewide Ballot Advertising Fund (Fund 5FH0).
*** Vote YES on Issue 3 Protect Our Elections, Fight Voter Fraud A YES vote on Issue 3 protects Ohio’s elections by placing photo ID requirements for voters into Ohio’s Constitution, safeguarding Ohio’s voters from imposters seeking to steal their vote. Requiring a photo ID helps verify a voter’s identity and ensures that only legal votes are counted. This commonsense requirement will protect Ohio’s elections and is the standard to obtain a job, rent an apartment, board a plane, or drive a car. • Fighting Fraud: Photo ID checks are a commonsense method to verify identity and detect fraudsters, keeping them from violating a voter’s most-fundamental right—the right to vote. • Faith in Fair Elections: Issue 3 not only helps prevent fraud, but also improves people’s faith and confidence in our elections by adding broadly supported requirements to our Constitution. Requiring photo ID to vote is backed by a landslide of voters nationally and in Ohio, repeatedly polling with over 80% support. • Safeguarding the Future: States without constitutional voter photo ID requirements have recently repealed photo ID laws. Election laws should not change dramatically every few years based on shifting political majorities, and a constitutional protection provides stability, reliability, and trust in the system. • Commonsense Compliance: Issue 3 will not burden Ohio’s voters because photo ID is currently in state law and free state ID cards are available to voting-age residents. Issue 3 also continues to provide alternative methods of compliance to voters who have sincere religious objections. Photo ID is a proven method to protect Ohio’s elections and improve voter confidence. If you can show an ID to drive a car, you can show an ID to decide the future of our state and our country. Protect Our Elections, Fight Fraud, Vote YES on Issue 3. ***
Prepared by: Representative Adam Bird, Representative Heidi Workman, Senator Theresa Gavarone, and Senator Jane Timken
Vote NO on Issue 3 - A Blatant Political Attack on Your Right to Vote Unneeded and Unpopular Issue 3 seeks to scare Ohioans into not trusting our election system to boost weak political candidates. Photo Identification is already the law and this amendment locks in voter burden with no voter protections. Groups from across the political spectrum from gun rights groups, labor unions, and Ohioans across the state opposed Issue 3 for failing to provide any concrete benefit. Vote No because Issue 3 tries to address an issue that does not exist. Voter impersonation is essentially nonexistent! Ohio’s elections are safe and secure. Fails to Protect Your Right to Vote Issue 3 fails to provide any safety measures for our elections while leaving many of our voting rights, such as the right to vote early and the right to free voter IDs, open to attacks by extremists. Issue 3 leaves any form of voting other than inperson open to being revoked or restricted in the future. Vote No because Issue 3 provides no protection for your ability to vote absentee, including for servicemembers overseas, students, working parents, and seniors. Bans Innovation Constitutional amendments remove flexibility exactly where flexibility is needed. Issue 3 blocks county issued veterans IDs and digital military IDs currently in use. Today in Ohio you can use your digital wallet to fly but not to vote. This amendment locks out future technology that will be both more secure and more available. Vote No because Issue 3 is nothing more than a partisan power grab by out-of-state elites who want to rig Ohio’s elections. Vote NO on Issue 3
Vote “No” argument prepared by Senator Bill DeMora and Representatives Desiree Tims and Terrence Upchurch.
Both columns use the same layout. Text is quoted from the official state guide. Views expressed belong to the argument authors.