Enshrining Photo Identification Requirements for Voting in the Ohio Constitution

Download

Testimony before

OHIO STATE SENATE

Committee on General Government

Testimony by

The Hon. J. Kenneth Blackwell

Chair Roegner and Members of the Committee,

Thank you for allowing me to testify today in support of the policies set forth in SJR 10. As the former Secretary of State in Ohio, I have a vested interest in ensuring that Ohio’s election laws protect voters and uphold high standards regarding accountability, transparency, and accuracy of our state elections. I currently serve as the Chair for Secure Elections at the America First Policy Institute, and I have served as a United States Ambassador to the United Nations, as well as the former Chairman of the bipartisan International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

In all of my decades of experience in the field of election security, I have found that the most foundational policy that helps ensure accurate elections is simply requiring voters to provide photo identification when they show up to the polls. This is the right policy; it’s what Ohioans want, and it’s time to enshrine it in the state constitution.

Requiring photo ID to vote is the right policy because it is a fundamental, common-sense safeguard against fraud. The person casting the ballot must be who they claim to be. Without a photo ID, this assumption cannot be made with complete certainty. If we are interested in preventing fraud in our elections, rather than trying to hunt for it and dispute elections after the fraud occurs, then we should take all measures necessary to make sure the person casting the ballot is properly identified and eligible to vote.

The international community recognizes this. Photo ID requirements for voting are the global norm. Among the 38 member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is the intergovernmental body of developed democracies dedicated to fostering economic growth and international trade, 34 require voters to present photo identification. Mandatory photo ID at the ballot box is the standard practice in the world's most established democracies, and even some non-developed countries require this policy as well. It’s simply absurd that countries like Bangladesh and Nigeria require photo ID to vote, but some states in the U.S. fail to do so.

It’s especially odd considering that photo ID is an incredibly popular policy. In America, public support for photo ID requirements to vote regularly polls in the 80th percentile, crossing all political affiliations and demographics. Perhaps Americans realize that since it is so easy to provide a photo ID during other commonplace activities, it just makes sense to apply that same standard to voting.

A common misconception is that requiring photo ID to vote will suppress minority turnout. Contrary to those claims, minorities in America are perfectly capable of obtaining a photo ID, and do so regularly to fill out paperwork for employment, rent or purchase homes, go to the doctor, or drive a car. In fact, it’s an insult to imply that minorities are unable to access photo IDs. Record-breaking turnout across all demographics occurred in Georgia’s 2022 elections, including among Black voters, even after the state enacted photo ID requirements. Incidentally, I’ve personally obtained several forms of photo ID accessible right now.

Ohio already has photo ID laws, so why is this constitutional amendment necessary? Primarily, for two reasons. First, this move will protect against the threat of future legislative reversals. State legislatures have the power to reverse previous laws, and there is no guarantee that photo ID requirements will be upheld by future generations. This would be a travesty for Ohioans, and a constitutional amendment makes the threshold of reversal much, much higher. Second, this protects the policy from invalidation in state court. State statutes can be challenged by state courts, but when a requirement is written into the constitution, it cannot be struck down as contrary to that constitution.

It is time to enshrine photo ID requirements in the constitution, paving the way for generations of secure elections.

Thank you for your time.

The Hon J. Kenneth Blackwell

Chair, Secure Elections

America First Policy Institute