Ohio ballot measure · November 3, 2026
Ohio Issue 3, explained
Photo identification to vote. A ballot measure is a yes-or-no question put directly to voters — no candidate is involved, and the wording on the ballot is the wording that becomes law. This page shows that wording first, then what it actually changes.
The official wording
Proposed Constitutional Amendment. 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? TO REQUIRE VOTERS TO PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION IN ORDER TO VOTE
This is what appears on the ballot. Everything below explains it.
What it actually means
Ohio has required photo ID to vote in person since 2023, but only in state law. This amendment writes a photo ID requirement into the state constitution, with a fixed list of acceptable IDs. Mail voters would need photo ID too, unless state law lets them use a signature plus another identifier instead, as they can now.
If you vote YES
- The constitution would require voters to present one of the listed IDs: an unexpired Ohio driver's license or state ID card, a U.S. passport or passport card, or a U.S. military, Ohio National Guard or Veterans Affairs ID card.
- In-person voting rules would not change right away, because photo ID is already required by law, but the Legislature could no longer repeal or loosen the requirement without another statewide vote.
- Voters who do not vote in person would have to provide photo ID unless state law allows a signature and at least one other unique identifier instead; the Legislature would decide whether to keep that alternative.
- State law could provide another way to verify identity for voters with a sincere religious objection to being photographed.
- Forms of ID not on the list, such as county-issued veterans IDs or digital military IDs, could not be added by the Legislature.
If you vote NO
- Ohio's existing photo ID requirement for in-person voting would stay in effect as state law, which the Legislature could change by passing a new law.
- Mail voters would continue to be able to identify themselves with an alternative such as the last four digits of their Social Security number, as current law allows.
- The list of acceptable IDs would remain in statute and could be expanded or narrowed by the Legislature.
The numbers that matter
- Vote needed to pass
- Simple majority
- Photo ID required in person since
- 2023
- Fiscal estimate
- None published
Certified ballot language, Ohio Ballot Board
Ohio Secretary of State and Statehouse News Bureau
No official cost estimate located
Why supporters say YES
Photo ID helps verify identity and keeps impostors from casting someone else's vote; it is already the standard for getting a job, renting an apartment or boarding a plane.
— Official argument in support, prepared by Representatives Adam Bird and Heidi Workman and Senators Theresa Gavarone and Jane Timken
Other states without constitutional photo ID requirements have repealed their laws; putting it in the constitution sets a floor so future legislatures cannot go backwards, and free state ID cards are available.
— Senator Theresa Gavarone and the official argument in support
Why opponents say NO
Photo ID is already the law and voter impersonation is essentially nonexistent; the amendment locks in burdens on voters without adding protections for early voting, free IDs or absentee voting for service members, students and seniors.
— Official argument against, prepared by Senator Bill DeMora and Representatives Desiree Tims and Terrence Upchurch
Writing a fixed list into the constitution removes flexibility, blocking county veterans IDs and digital military IDs in use today and future digital IDs, and gives lawmakers room to restrict mail voting later.
— Official argument against, and Libertarian secretary of state nominee Tom Pruss
What’s genuinely uncertain
- No official fiscal estimate for Issue 3 was found; because in-person photo ID is already required, direct new costs are likely small, but none has been published.
- Whether mail voters keep the non-photo alternative depends on future legislation; the amendment allows but does not guarantee it.
- No organised campaign committees for or against were identified in the sources reviewed. Democratic legislators voted against placing it on the ballot, and one Democratic ballot board member, Senator Bill DeMora, voted to approve the ballot language.
The bottom line
Protecting the photo ID requirement from future legislative change, against locking a fixed list of IDs and possible mail-voting limits into the constitution.
One neutral sentence describing the tradeoff — not a recommendation.
Checking it against the official text
The Ohio Secretary of State publishes the certified measures and, in most states, an official voter guide with fiscal notes. That is the authoritative version. Everything here is an explanation of it, not a substitute for it.
Confirm this with the official source
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Ohio Secretary of State.
Candidates on the same ballot
- U.S. Senate special election in Ohio
- Ohio governor's race
- Ohio's 1st congressional district
- Ohio's 2nd congressional district
- Ohio's 3rd congressional district
- Ohio's 4th congressional district
- Ohio's 5th congressional district
- Ohio's 6th congressional district