The following Press Release by Ohio's Secretary of State on January 24, 2023 refers to HB458 adopted by Ohio's General Assembly during lame duck in December 2022, "which requires a strict photo ID to vote while also providing voters with a free state ID card". However, the Press Release does not mention that HB458 still allows individuals to register to vote on paper in Ohio without a photo-id and those same individuals can vote absentee without a photo-id. In fact, there presently word that college students living on or near campus are encouraged to do just that.
The TRUTH is HB458 is typical political double-speak 'smoke and mirrors' legislation which is advertised as a 'strict photo ID' in Ohio to vote, when in reality, individuals can still register and vote without a photo ID, which violates the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause that requires equal protection under the law.
HB458 allows the Secretary of State to continue to mail unsolicited absentee ballot applications to every registered voter in Ohio at a taxpayer expense exceeding one-million dollars each election.
HB458 allows absentee ballots returned by mail to be counted up to 4 days after an election to be counted.
HB458 allows drop boxes when prior law did not specify drop boxes were allowed. Although drop boxes have been used in previous elections, they were never legislated, and were potentially not legal.
HB458 "stays silent" and doesn't clarify whether absent voter ballots can be counted if they are returned to the board inside the return envelope but not inside the identification envelope - allowing for potential inconsistent processing by counties and potential manipulation of absent voter ballots.
View Additional Details of HB458.