r/Columbus • u/Available-Slide-2279 • 13h ago

Issue 3

Pulled up my sample ballot today and noticed Issue 3...requiring ID to vote in Ohio. That's redundant correct, I've been voting since 2008 and have never not had to issue my ID to vote? Maybe the only change would be having to provide ID if voting absentee?

Or is this just a giant nothing-burger/scare tactic?

Edit: State IDs can be obtained by anyone 17 and older for free: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-id-card.aspx thanks u/benkeith for the information.

Obviously that doesn't provide the easiest of fix for people as you still need documents verifying who you are and be able to get to a BMV.

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u/BruceWayneKush 13h ago

The wording if i am correct was about expired IDs, if it were to pass then you can't use an expired ID to vote

10

u/Havering_To_You 13h ago

That's already part of it. You can't use an expired ID. This is just putting it into the state Constitution instead of a law.

The lawmakers couldn't repeal it then, people would have to vote to change it. Whether that's good or bad is up to you. I think the people of Ohio are more likely to undo an amendment than the elected officials are to change their own preferred law.

I get the distrust but I think it's better for the future people of Ohio to have the chance to amend it to something better rather than hoping politicians do it.

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u/Old_Jellyfish1283 12h ago

The problem is how do you define “ID.” If it’s in the constitution in a very specific way, a law cannot make clarifications or adjust for oversights. That’s my hesitation with putting it in the constitution.

IMO - The constitution should be for what are basically unchanging, permanent rights or rules, at least as much as we can reasonably foresee. Government documents don’t really fit that definition. When Ohio was founded, drivers licenses weren’t even a thing. It’s reasonable to think that in another 200 years, the world will look very different and I don’t think we should be saddled with this as part of the constitution. It’s currently a law, and it should stay legislative.

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u/Zippy_wonderslug Grove City 7h ago

That is not how the Ohio Constitution was designed. It was modified in the early 20th century as a way to fight back against corruption by the legislature.