A challenge to Ohio’s stringent voter ID law, which encompasses a photo requirement, has been dismissed by a federal judge who deemed it constitutional. The complaint, filed by a Democratic law firm, contested various provisions such as the photo ID requirement, restrictions on drop boxes, and stricter deadlines for absentee and provisional ballots.
U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent, appointed by Clinton, concluded in his ruling that the Ohio photo ID mandate does not impose a significant burden, if any, on the majority of voters.
The report added: “Nugent also rejected the other claims asserted by the Elias Law Group, whose suit filed last year on behalf of groups representing military veterans, teachers, retirees, and the homeless argued the law imposed ‘needless and discriminatory burdens’ on the right to vote. The suit was filed the same day Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed the legislation over the objections of voting rights, labor, environmental, and civil rights groups that had been pleading for a veto.”
The judge emphasized that voters do not have a constitutional right to access mail-in or early voting options. He also highlighted that Ohio’s revised absentee ballot timetable is more accommodating than that of 30 other states.
It was pointed out that the argument claiming that limiting ballot drop boxes to one location negatively affected voters was inaccurate, as the 2023 law was the first time the state had used such boxes. It is important to note that the GOP-controlled legislature’s decision to formalize the single-drop box restriction per county came after years of heated debate on the issue.
In the lead-up to the 2020 election, three different courts criticized Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose for his order establishing the single-box restriction, deeming it unreasonable and arbitrary. Democrats and voting rights organizations had pushed for the installation of multiple drop boxes, especially in densely populated counties, to make voting easier during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, Democrats filed a lawsuit, and a state appellate court ultimately ruled that Secretary of State Frank LaRose had the authority to increase the number of drop boxes without seeking additional legislative approval. However, it stressed that he was not required to do so. The 2023 law addressed the issue by formalizing the single-box restriction for the first time. Nevertheless, opponents of the law failed to present a convincing argument.
