What to know about Ohio's new voter ID laws ahead of the primary election

Paige Bennett, The Repository
·3 min read
Ohio voted stickers.
Ohio voted stickers.

New voting laws are in effect for Ohio's primary election on Tuesday.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 458 in January. The bill requires Ohio voters to bring a photo ID to vote in-person, unless the voter has a religious exemption to being photographed. It is among the strictest voter ID requirements in the country. Ohio's new election laws also include changes to early voting.

Here's what you should know ahead of Election Day:

Stark County primary election: here's what to know as early voting begins

Ohioans must bring valid photo ID to vote in person

Voters who plan to cast their ballots at their polling place must have a photo ID. Acceptable forms of ID include:

  • Ohio driver's license

  • State of Ohio ID card

  • Interim ID form issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

  • U.S. passport

  • U.S. passport card

  • U.S. military ID card

  • Ohio National Guard ID card

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

All photo ID must have an expiration date that has not passed, photo of the voter and the voter's name, which must conform to the name that appears in the poll list or poll book. An unexpired Ohio driver's license, state ID card or interim documentation with a voter's former address is acceptable as long as the current address is listed in the poll book.

Voters previously had the option to show an alternate form of ID, such as a utility bill or paycheck that indicated their current address. Those documents will no longer be accepted. A county-issued veteran's ID also does not qualify.

Ohioans who are 17 and older can obtain a free state ID from the BMV.

Early voting ends today

Another change to the state's voting laws is that early, in-person voting will not take place the Monday before the election. Stark County voters can cast their ballots from 1 to 5 p.m. today at the county Board of Elections at 3525 Regent Ave. NE.

When can you vote at your polling place?

All polling places will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Be sure to check the Stark County Board of Elections' website to verify your polling place if you plan to vote in person. Voters who cast an absentee ballot can check the status of their ballot with the Board of Elections here.

What's on the ballot in Stark County?

Voters in Stark communities will decide on a number of primaries, levies and other issues. Among offices on the ballot in Stark County are mayor's posts in Canton and Alliance. Canton and Massillon also have large groups of candidates seeking at-large seats on their city councils.

Voters seeking issues-only ballots will see two countywide renewal levies. The Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities is asking for the renewal of a five-year, 3.3-mill levy for programs and services and facility maintenance. Voters will also decide whether to renew a 0.1-mill levy for the maintenance and operation of the county's 911 system for five years.

Canton City Schools voters will see Issue 18, which would build two elementary schools and change how the district of nearly 8,000 students educates its youngest pupils. Issue 19, out of Perry Local School District, would provide new operating money. Lake Local Schools also is seeking new operating money.

East Canton voters will see an 8.1-mill levy for the village's police department. Osnaburg Township is seeking three new property taxes − 0.15 mills for cemetery maintenance; a 1.05-mill levy for road maintenance; and 1.3 mills for fire protection.

In Alliance, voters will be asked to renew a 3-mill property tax that funds parks and recreation activities. The issue first was passed five years ago.

A full rundown of candidates and issues is available online at https://starkcountyohio.gov/government/offices/board_of_elections.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: The primary election is Tuesday. Here's what you should know.