OHIO, USA — If the November election is your first time voting this year, you should know about a new requirement in Ohio.
In previous elections, voters could bring forms of identification such as a utility bill, but that's changed.
Voters must now bring a government-issued ID that is not expired. That includes things such as:
- Ohio driver's license;
- State of Ohio ID card;
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
- A US passport;
- A US passport card;
- US military ID card;
- Ohio National Guard ID card; or
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
If you don't have one of those forms of ID, you will be given a provisional ballot.
"It's a separate paper, it's a different color, it's put aside in an envelope, it's not counted on election night, but as long as you get down to the board of elections within a few days and prove your identity, it will be counted as part of that official tally, the one that really counts," Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said.
However, that means more work for you and election workers.
Wood County Board of Elections officials told WTOL 11 that the number of provisional ballots from August 2022 to August 2023 jumped from 27 to 532, and that it's because of the Ohio voter ID law.
If you don't have a valid ID for the election on Nov. 7, you can go to the BMV to get one for free, according to LaRose.
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