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Gov. Mike DeWine signs Ohio election, photo ID bill

Voters stand in line to vote at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral during midterm elections in November.
  • Ohioans will have to show photo ID to vote on Election Day
  • Voters can no longer use utility bills, other documents to vote
  • Mail-in ballots must arrive within 4 days from Election Day instead of 10
  • Each Ohio county can have only one drob box for ballots

Gov. Mike DeWine signed a major overhaul of state election laws on Friday that will require voters to present a photo ID at the polls.

Under the new law, voters must present a photo ID when they cast their ballot in person, although the ID doesn't need to have their current address on it. Qualifying IDs include an Ohio driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, passport card, military ID or interim identification issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Voters could previously use alternative forms of identification at the polls, such as utility bills or bank statements.

As part of the new rules, any Ohioans 17 and older will be eligible to receive a free state ID card. Ohio licenses and ID cards must also note if the person is not a U.S. citizen.

The law also:

  • Requires completed mail-in ballots to arrive within four days of Election Day, instead of 10.
  • Requires voters who want to vote by mail to submit an application at least seven days before Election Day, instead of three.
  • Permits only one ballot drop box per county that's installed at the county board of elections office.
  • Eliminates in-person voting the Monday before Election Day and reallocates those hours to another time.
  • Gives provisional voters until four days after the election to provide missing information to election officials, instead of seven days.
  • Give boards of elections until eight days after the election to determine whether provisional ballots can be counted.
  • Eliminates most special elections in August unless the county, municipality or school district is under a fiscal emergency.
  • Prohibits curbside voting, unless the voter has a disability and is unable to enter their polling place.
  • Allows all 17-year-olds to serve as election officials, not just high school seniors.




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