Ohio lawmaker promotes a bill to require absentee voters to provide a copy of their photo ID
“The best way to ensure the integrity of our elections is to require a photo ID to vote,” he said. “Of course, that’s why we already do so at polling places on Election Day or during early voting at your county’s board of elections. This bill will apply that same standard to mail-in voting, and that is the fair thing to do for all voters.”
Ferguson then said that a photo ID is “strongly supported by Americans in both political parties.”
A nationwide poll by the Pew Research Center showed that 83% of American adults support “requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote,” with 71% of self-identified Democrats supporting the requirement.
“It is supported by every demographic in every state of our country, but most importantly, it is the right thing to do for Ohio,” he said. “We should be leaders in election integrity here in Ohio, and this bill will help us get there. I respectfully ask for favorable consideration of this bill and will be happy to answer any questions the committee may have.”
Republican Secretary of State candidate Marcell Strbich also testified, saying that the “status quo” should be challenged because “it applies the law unequally, leaves the system open to third-party exploitation, and signals to Ohioans that convenience for some outweighs the integrity of every registration and ballot.”
“In 2026, we cannot afford to leave these vulnerabilities unaddressed. Our votes are far more precious than any administrative convenience. We must choose prevention over reaction, and deterrence over regret. I urge the Committee to pass HB 577 without delay. Ohio deserves elections that are both accessible and ironclad,” Strbich said.
Others also shared the sentiment in their testimonies. Among them were Sue Lindeman of Suzi’s Places, Douglas Cooper of Creative Imprints, and Laurie Groves and Sandie Zimmerman Bell of the Ohio Election Integrity Network.
The recent support for the bill came after Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced last week that Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections have begun sending ballots to military and overseas voters, officially beginning the 2026 primary election.
“As a veteran, I believe those who defend our democracy should always have a voice in it,” LaRose said in a release. “Our accessible resources and continuous focus on supporting all voters ensure Ohioans serving abroad can stay informed and vote securely, no matter where they are.”
Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court Justices recently expressed skepticism about laws allowing mail-in ballots to be counted after Election Day, suggesting they are ready to overturn them, according to Ideastream Public Media. The news source reported that Justices Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas were specifically concerned about the practice, with Thomas going so far as to question the legality of early voting.
