Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 472 on June 25, 2026, blocking a Republican-passed law that would have required mail-in voters to submit a copy of their driver’s license or state ID starting with the November 2027 election.
“House Bill 472 would not discourage fraud, would not add any real security, and would create an additional and significant burden for Ohioans who vote by mail.”
Gov. Mike DeWine, veto message, June 25, 2026
DeWine, a Republican serving his final months as a term-limited governor, argued the bill gave election officials no new tools. “Requiring the photo ID for the mail-in ballot process does not provide election officials with any opportunity to verify if the ID picture matches the face of the voter,” he wrote.
Ohio Republican Senators Expanded a Homeless Aid Bill Into a Voter ID Mandate
House Bill 472 started as a bipartisan measure to waive fees for birth certificate copies for people experiencing homelessness. The Ohio House passed that version with near-unanimous support. Senate Republicans then added the absentee ballot ID requirement, framing it as an election integrity measure, before the legislature left for summer break two weeks ago.
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Ohio. Former Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost received 600 referrals of alleged voter fraud from the Secretary of State in 2024 and brought six indictments. Those cases involved individuals accused of voting at least once between 2008 and 2020 before becoming U.S. citizens.
Ohio Already Has a Photo ID Requirement for In-Person Voting
Ohio enacted a photo ID requirement for in-person voters in 2022, and it took effect in 2023. Ohio voters will also have a chance to enshrine that existing law in the state constitution on the November 2026 ballot. DeWine’s veto applies only to the new mail-in ID copy requirement, not to the in-person rule.
The Republican-controlled Ohio General Assembly can attempt a veto override, which requires three-fifths of both chambers. Lawmakers are currently on summer break.
What You Can Do Now
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Call your Ohio state senator and state representative at the Ohio General Assembly switchboard at (614) 466-8842 and tell them not to override DeWine’s veto of HB 472. A veto override would create a new barrier for mail-in voters without adding any security benefit DeWine’s own administration could identify.
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Contact Senate President Matt Huffman’s office directly at (614) 466-7584. Huffman controls whether an override vote is scheduled. Tell him the bill fails its own stated purpose and should not be brought to a vote.
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Check your Ohio voter registration and mail-in ballot status at MyOhioVote.com before the November 2026 election. The constitutional amendment on photo ID will appear on that ballot.
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Find the Ohio Organizing Collaborative at ohioorganizing.org to connect with groups already mobilizing against HB 472. They held a Statehouse rally before the veto and will track any override attempt.