Yes on Issue 3: Why Ohio should put voter ID in the Constitution
By Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose
and Hon. Ken Cuccinelli
Ohio already requires identification to vote. The question before voters this November is whether that requirement should remain a matter of ordinary state law or become a permanent part of the Ohio Constitution.
State Issue 3 would place the existing photo identification requirement on firmer constitutional footing, limiting the ability of future legislatures to change it.
Virginia demonstrates why that distinction matters. In 2013, state lawmakers there adopted a photo ID requirement for in-person voting. Seven years later, political control changed hands, and lawmakers repealed the requirement, instead allowing voters to cast a regular ballot by signing an identity confirmation statement.
A protection enacted by one legislature was reversed by another.
This gets to the heart of why Ohio voters should adopt State Issue 3. Election integrity must be a constitutional safeguard, not a legislative debate.
Ohioans have used this approach before. In 2022, nearly 77 percent of voters approved a constitutional amendment ensuring that only U.S. citizens can vote in Ohio elections. The amendment established a constitutional standard that future legislatures cannot simply repeal or weaken through ordinary legislation. That decision belongs to Ohio citizens, not whichever party controls the statehouse.
Consideration of State Issue 3 also gives us an opportunity to examine the broader process by which Ohio verifies voter identity. For those voting in person, the process begins with approved government-issued photo identification. But Ohio's safeguards extend much further, especially for absentee voters.
Before receiving an absentee ballot, a voter must submit an application identifying their name, registered address, date of birth and signature. They must also supply an Ohio driver's license or state identification number, the last four digits of their Social Security number, or a copy of acceptable photo identification.
The process does not end when the ballot is mailed.
When returning a completed ballot, voters must again provide identifying information, including their signature and an accepted identification number or photo ID copy. Election officials review that information against voter registration records and compare signatures before determining whether the ballot can be counted.
In other words, Ohio verifies absentee voters at two separate stages: when they request a ballot and when they return it.
Additional safeguards strengthen that process. Ohio's ballot-tracking system allows voters to monitor their absentee ballots, while election officials maintain records of ballot requests and returns. Pollbooks identify voters who have requested absentee ballots, helping prevent a second ballot from being counted.
Underlying these protections is Ohio's ongoing voter registration maintenance program. State and county election officials use address-change information, government databases and other verification procedures to identify outdated or potentially ineligible registrations, subject to legally required notice and safeguards.
These measures matter because accurate voter rolls are the foundation of reliable identity verification.
All of these election safeguards are designed to work together. Identification requirements help establish who is voting. Accurate registration records help election officials confirm eligibility. Ballot tracking and reconciliation help ensure votes are properly accounted for. Each serves a different purpose, and together they provide multiple layers of protection throughout the voting process.
None of it matters, however, if the definition of voter identification, and specifically the requirement for photo ID, can simply be dismantled from one legislative session to the next by a simple majority vote of the party in power.
Importantly, Ohio's experience provides useful evidence that these safeguards do not discourage voting.
Since the state's photo ID requirement took effect in 2023, Ohio has conducted numerous elections, including the 2024 presidential election. That year, more than 5.85 million Ohioans voted, the second-highest number in state history. Ohio also set a record for early in-person voting, with approximately 1.5 million participants.
Those results demonstrate that substantial voter participation and mandatory photo identification can coexist. In fact, the evidence suggests voters might even be more incentivized to participate in an election they can trust.
National opinion also reflects considerable support for photo ID requirements. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found 83 percent of Americans favored government-issued photo identification to vote, including majorities of both Republicans and Democrats. These numbers prove this is more than a policy; it’s a value.
On November 3, Ohio voters will have the choice about whether to enshrine that value in our state’s governing document, providing consistency and preserving public confidence in our elections.
They should vote yes on State Issue 3.
Frank LaRose is the 51st Secretary of State of Ohio. Ken Cuccinelli is former attorney general of Virginia and chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative at Heritage Action.