Last-minute bill could kill Ohio mail-in voting

ALERT — Ohio Statehouse Republicans plan to pass a new bill THIS WEEK that could kill mail-in voting in our state.

Until today, HB 472 was a good, bipartisan bill that would waive ID and birth certificate fees for homeless Ohioans.

The NEW, SUBSTITUTE VERSION OF HB 472 would require photo ID for all mail-in ballots.

Many Ohioans would need to:

• Find a scanner

• Learn how to use a scanner

• Likely pay to scan and print a copy of their ID

• Trust the mail enough to mail a copy of their photo ID to their county Board of Elections along with their ballot

We’re hearing that bill sponsor Christine Cockley is furious. She was about to pass a bipartisan bill through the house that would make life just a little bit easier for homeless Ohioans. Then Statehouse Republicans hijacked her bill at the last minute without her permission.

This new bill also fails to protect Ohioans in the Safe At Home address confidentiality program. They are exempted from providing their address, but their address will be listed on the copy of their ID that they’re forced to upload and/or send through the mail….

This bill has nothing to do with “securing our elections.” Ohio voters are already required to include identifying information such as their license number on all mail-in ballots. This is literally just blatant voter suppression.

People won't be able to scan and print a copy of their ID, so they won't be able to vote by mail.

Or they wont trust the idea of sending a copy of their ID in the mail, so they won't vote by mail.

The intent here is blatantly obvious for anyone willing to admit it.

The substitute bill is expected to be added to HB 472 TOMORROW (TUESDAY 6/9/26) in the Ohio Senate General Government Committee. We need opponents to testify!!

• WHEN: Tomorrow, Tuesday (6/9/26) at 2:00 pm

• WHERE: Ohio Statehouse — North Hearing Room

• HOW TO TESTIFY (in-person or written-only): Use this template to guide you. Because of the late notice, the 24-hour testimony submission requirement has been waived. Testimony is due by 2:00 pm Tuesday (It's due when the committee begins)

Don’t worry if you don’t know details about the bill. No one does. It’s 121 pages long, and we received it tonight. It’s not even posted on the Statehouse website anyplace yet. That alone is a damn good reason not to pass it.