COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 472, a measure that would have mandated photo identification for absentee voting in the state starting in 2027. This action follows protests and occurs within broader legislative efforts concerning voter identification.

House Bill 472 would have required voters to submit a copy of a photo ID to vote absentee. Voters would have been able to provide this copy by mail, in person, or through an online application portal. Current Ohio law permits voters casting ballots by mail to use either a driver's license number or a Social Security number instead of a photo ID.

The bill included exceptions for specific groups, such as military voters, overseas voters, and individuals with disabilities, mobility limitations, or severe medical conditions. Additionally, House Bill 472 allowed voters to opt out of the photo ID requirement by claiming a "material obstacle" to obtaining the necessary identification.

On June 24, 2026, protests against House Bill 472 occurred outside the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. Molly Shack, representing the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, spoke during one of these demonstrations. The photo ID requirement was added by Senate Republicans to a bill initially designed to waive ID fees for people experiencing homelessness.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 472 concurrently with a proposed amendment aimed at incorporating voter ID rules into the Ohio Constitution. Governor DeWine previously signed Ohio's 2023 voter ID law. In December, Governor DeWine also approved legislation to eliminate the grace period for mail-in ballots.