Ohio Issue 3 is on the ballot today, and Ohioans will decide whether to write the state’s photo ID voting rules into the Ohio Constitution. It is the only statewide ballot issue in Ohio this November. Polls close tonight, and a majority “yes” vote would make the amendment effective immediately.
Voters have shown strong interest. Nearly 1.3 million Ohioans had already voted early in person or returned absentee ballots heading into Election Day. State officials say early turnout has far outpaced prior gubernatorial election years.
What Issue 3 Would Do
Issue 3 is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. It would add a new Section 5 to Article V of the Ohio Constitution. The measure protects Ohio’s current photo ID law, which lawmakers passed in 2023 as House Bill 458.
If voters approve it, the amendment would require in-person voters to show an approved government-issued photo ID. It would also set identification rules for other voting methods, including absentee voting by mail.
For absentee voters, the amendment calls for either a photo ID or a signature plus one other unique identifier authorized by law. It also lets the legislature create a separate verification process for voters with a sincere religious objection to being photographed.
What Stays the Same Either Way
Photo ID is not new in Ohio. State law already requires it to vote in person, before and on Election Day. A “yes” vote would not change what voters must show at the polls today.
The real shift is legal. Lawmakers can change a state law with a simple vote. A constitutional requirement is much harder to alter, because it would take another statewide vote. A “no” vote would leave the current law in place, and the Legislature could still change it in the future.
Which IDs Count at the Polls
The amendment lists the same forms of identification that Ohio accepts now. Voters need an unexpired document from this list:
- An Ohio driver’s license, Ohio state ID card, or interim ID issued by the Ohio BMV
- A U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
- A U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
The ID cannot be expired. Ohio’s Mobile ID does not qualify as a photo ID for voting. The Ohio Ballot Board added the word “unexpired” before “Ohio driver license” in the ballot language during its August meeting.
Absentee Voting Rules Under Current Law
Ohio law already sets ID requirements for absentee ballots. Voters must provide a copy of a photo ID, an Ohio driver’s license number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. A signature is also required.
Issue 3 would not immediately change those mail-in rules. Its language does leave room for lawmakers to adjust them later. Opponents point to that flexibility as a key concern.
How Issue 3 Reached the Ballot
Republican lawmakers introduced the measure as Senate Joint Resolution 10. Gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pushed for it in May, and the resolution passed the Statehouse in June. Constitutional amendments from the Legislature need 60% support in each chamber to reach the ballot.
On Aug. 3, the Ohio Ballot Board approved the official ballot language on a 4-1 vote. The ballot title describes the measure as requiring “voters to present photo identification in order to vote.” Four bullet points then explain what the amendment does.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose later released the full text, the certified explanation, and the official arguments for and against. Those materials are available at OhioSoS.gov and at polling places.
Why Is It Called Issue 3?
The number is not random. Ohio now numbers statewide ballot issues in sequence instead of restarting each election. Issue 1 was the redistricting proposal in November 2024. Issue 2 was the bond proposal in May 2025. Issue 3 follows in November 2026. The count continues until Issue 500.
Who Supports Issue 3
The Ohio Republican Party is effectively running the “yes” campaign. President Donald Trump and Ramaswamy have campaigned for the amendment. State Treasurer Robert Sprague also backs it.
Supporters make three main arguments:
- Photo ID checks help confirm a voter’s identity.
- Putting the rule in the constitution protects it from future repeal.
- Ohio’s current law is among the strongest in the country, and it should stay that way.
LaRose has called the requirement fundamental to election security in Ohio. The official argument for the amendment uses the slogan “Protect Our Elections, Fight Voter Fraud.”
A Notable Democratic Voice in Favor
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton has said she supports Issue 3. That put her at odds with many in her own party. Both major candidates for governor, Ramaswamy and Acton, back the amendment.
Who Opposes Issue 3
Opposition comes from several voting rights and civic groups. They include All Voting is Local Ohio, the ACLU of Ohio, Ohio Citizen Action, and the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde also opposes it. So does Allison Russo, the Democratic nominee for secretary of state.
Opponents raise several points:
- The amendment is redundant because photo ID is already the law.
- Ohio election audits have not found widespread voter fraud.
- Locking in today’s ID list could become a problem as identification moves toward digital formats.
- Leaving non-in-person voting open to future change could signal limits on early and absentee voting.
The official argument against the amendment makes similar claims. It says the measure locks in voter burdens without solving a documented problem.
A Related Fight Over Mail-In Photo ID
Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a separate bill in June that would have required photo ID for mail-in ballots. That veto matters to the Issue 3 debate. Supporters of the amendment say it would make future changes to absentee rules easier to pursue. Opponents say that is exactly why they worry.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ballot name | State Issue 3, Require Voter Identification Amendment |
| Election date | Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 |
| Type | Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
| Where it goes | New Section 5, Article V, Ohio Constitution |
| Vote needed | Simple majority of voters |
| Effective date if approved | Immediately |
| Ballot Board vote | 4-1 on Aug. 3 |
| Only statewide issue on ballot | Yes |
Turnout and What Voters Should Know
Ohio has more than 8 million registered voters. Early voting has been heavy across the state. Of the nearly 1.3 million early ballots counted ahead of Election Day, more than 770,000 came from in-person early voting. Another 521,000 or so came from returned absentee ballots.
Unaffiliated voters account for more than 500,000 of the ballots already cast. Democratic voters account for about 388,000 and Republican voters for about 335,000.
Voters casting a ballot in person today should bring an unexpired photo ID from the approved list. Anyone unsure about their polling place or sample ballot can check their county board of elections or the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.
How to Read a Yes or No Vote
The ballot wording is simple. A “yes” vote approves the amendment and writes the photo ID requirement into the constitution. A “no” vote rejects it and leaves the existing law as it stands.
Neither outcome changes the ID you need to bring today. Both sides agree on that point. They disagree on whether the rule belongs in the constitution at all.
What Happens Next
Results will come in after polls close this evening. Ohio Issue 3 needs only a simple majority. If it passes, the amendment takes effect right away, and the state’s photo ID rules become part of the Ohio Constitution.
Lawmakers could then act on the amendment’s provisions, including any process for voters with religious objections to photographs. If it fails, the 2023 law remains in force, and future legislatures keep the power to revise it.
Have a take on Ohio Issue 3? Share your thoughts in the comments, and check back for the latest updates as results come in.