The Associated Press called it before 10 p.m. ET Tuesday: Ohio voters have approved Issue 3, amending the state constitution to require approved government-issued photo ID for in-person voting. With roughly 86% of precincts reporting, the measure led 2,664,563 votes to 1,368,088 — a margin of roughly 65% to 35%. (Associated Press; Signal Ohio)

What a “yes” vote does

Issue 3 writes Ohio’s photo ID requirement into the state constitution. It does not change mail-in voting rules, but it allows lawmakers to extend photo ID requirements to mail ballots through future legislation. (Ballotpedia; Columbus Dispatch)

What it doesn’t change — yet

Practically speaking, nothing changes at the polls today: Ohio has required photo ID for in-person voting since 2023. What Issue 3 does is constitutionalize that requirement. From here, any future change to voter ID rules needs voter approval — through the legislature referring an amendment or through citizens gathering petition signatures — rather than a simple act of the General Assembly.

The bipartisan wrinkle

The measure reached the ballot via SJR 10, placed by the GOP-controlled legislature at Ramaswamy’s behest, and legislative passage was along partisan lines — the Senate advanced it with 22 votes, every voting Democrat opposed. But Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton also endorsed Issue 3, breaking from her party’s traditional stance on voter ID. (Signal Ohio)

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons.