Ohio Issue 3: Require photo ID to vote
What it does. Issue 3 was proposed by a three-fifths vote of the Ohio General Assembly. It would add Section 5 to Article V of the Ohio Constitution. Voters would have to show one of a listed set of government-issued photo IDs to vote in person, with a possible alternative way to verify identity for voters with a sincere religious objection to being photographed. Voters using any other method, such as absentee voting by mail, would have to provide photo ID or, if state law allows, a signature plus at least one other unique identifier. Ohio law already requires photo ID to vote, so the amendment would put a similar rule into the Constitution. [1] [2]
Official ballot question. 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. Shall the amendment be approved? [1]
If you vote yes
A “YES” vote means approval of the amendment. Voters would be required to present an approved form of government-issued photo identification in order to vote, and the amendment would take effect immediately. [1]
If you vote no
A “NO” vote means disapproval of the amendment. The constitutional photo ID requirement would not be added; the photo ID requirement in current Ohio law would remain a state law rather than part of the Constitution. [1]
What it would cost
The Legislative Service Commission’s fiscal note on S.J.R. 10 (the Senate version dated June 1, 2026) says the only direct cost is ballot advertising, paid from the Secretary of State’s Statewide Ballot Advertising Fund. It says the actual cost “depends on the length of the ballot measure, explanations, and arguments for and against.” For comparison, the Secretary of State paid approximately $405,000 for State Issue 1 (November 2024) and nearly $358,000 for State Issue 2 (May 2025). [3]
Both sides
Strongest case for
The official argument in favor was prepared by Representatives Adam Bird and Heidi Workman and Senators Theresa Gavarone and Jane Timken. It says photo ID checks are “a commonsense method to verify identity and detect fraudsters,” safeguarding voters “from imposters seeking to steal their vote,” and that requiring ID is “backed by a landslide of voters nationally and in Ohio, repeatedly polling with over 80% support.” [1]
It argues for stability: “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.” It adds that “States without constitutional voter photo ID requirements have recently repealed photo ID laws.” [1]
It says the amendment adds little burden: “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,” and it “continues to provide alternative methods of compliance to voters who have sincere religious objections.” [1]
Strongest case against
The official argument against was prepared by Senator Bill DeMora and Representatives Desiree Tims and Terrence Upchurch. It says “Photo Identification is already the law and this amendment locks in voter burden with no voter protections,” and that Issue 3 addresses a problem that does not exist: “Voter impersonation is essentially nonexistent!” [1]
It argues the amendment leaves other ways of voting exposed: “Issue 3 provides no protection for your ability to vote absentee, including for servicemembers overseas, students, working parents, and seniors,” and that it leaves any form of voting other than in person open to being revoked or restricted in the future. [1]
It also argues that locking the rules into the Constitution removes flexibility: “Constitutional amendments remove flexibility exactly where flexibility is needed.” It says Issue 3 “blocks county issued veterans IDs and digital military IDs currently in use.” [1]
What neither side is saying
Context that bears on what this measure does or who it affects but that the arguments above do not address. These are sourced facts, not arguments for or against the measure.
- Which IDs count would be written into the Constitution. The amendment text defines “Photo identification” as a document “issued by an agency of this state or the United States” that includes the voter’s name and photograph and is not expired. It lists Ohio driver’s licenses and state ID cards (and certain temporary documents from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles), U.S. passports and passport cards, and U.S. military, Ohio National Guard and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID cards. Documents issued by counties or other local governments are not on the list. [1]
- Legislators, not the amendment, would decide the mail-ballot alternative. For voting other than in person, the amendment says that “At a minimum, and in accordance with laws passed by the general assembly,” voters must provide photo ID or, if authorized by law, a signature and at least one other unique identifier. Whether the signature option exists, and which identifiers count, would be left to state law. [1]
Editorial context, not the opinion of We Elect. Each point is a fact we found in a source we opened and read; where sources disagree or data are missing, we say so. How we choose these.
Follow the money
Contributions reported by committees registered to support or oppose Issue 3. Major donors are those who gave $100,000 or more; where fewer than three did, up to five of the largest listed donors giving $5,000 or more are shown.
Supporting (Yes)
Total raised —
No committee registered.
Opposing (No)
Total raised —
No committee registered.
Reported contributions as of Nov. 1, 2026, as compiled by Ballotpedia from state filings; the source lists each side’s top donors, not every donor. Figures are reported contributions and may be updated as new reports are filed. Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar. Official filings: Ohio Secretary of State, campaign finance.
Sources
- Issue 3 report: ballot language, explanation, arguments for and against, and full text of the proposed amendment — Ohio Secretary of State (certified by the Ohio Ballot Board) (Official state voter guide, 2026-08-03)
- Ohio Issue 3, Require Voter Identification Amendment (2026) — Ballotpedia (Reference (quotes supporters and opponents), accessed 2026-10-28)
- Fiscal Note & Local Impact Statement, S.J.R. 10 (version in Senate General Government, June 1, 2026) — Ohio Legislative Service Commission (Official fiscal analysis, 2026-06-01)
Editorial summary of arguments made by others, not the opinion of We Elect. Last reviewed 2026-10-28. How we write both sides.
We Elect is a Brunner Creative site. Editorial summary of arguments made by others, not the opinion of We Elect. Each side is written to be the strongest case its supporters would recognize, and every claim is tied to a source we opened and read.