Ohio residents need photo ID to vote in May primary

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·2 min read
2
The entrance to election site in the Tuscarawas County Courthouse.
The entrance to election site in the Tuscarawas County Courthouse.

NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ Beginning with the May 2 primary, Ohio residents will be required to show photo identification to be able to cast a ballot in person.

House Bill 458, signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine in January, created the photo ID requirement. Previously, residents could use such things as a utility bill, bank statement or paycheck to show their current address.

More on voting:How Ohio's new voter ID law compares to other states

More on voting:May 2023 ballot: Contested primaries brewing for Dover, Uhrichsville mayor positions

"People who come in to early vote and people who go to their polling locations must have a photo ID to vote," said Gail Garbrandt, director of the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections. "That's either an Ohio driver's license or an Ohio ID card. A military ID is also acceptable and now a U.S. passport, which was never acceptable in the past."

Photo ID is required unless a voter has a religious objection to being photographed and attests to that on the form prescribed by the Ohio Secretary of State's office.

If residents are casting an absentee ballot, they have to provide one of three types of identification ‒ the last four digits of their Social Security number, their driver's license number or a photo ID. If they use their photo ID, they have to send the elections board a copy of both sides, Garbrandt said.

Early voting at the board of elections office

The state also made changes to early voting hours.

The Tuscarawas County Board of Elections office at the courthouse in New Philadelphia will be open:

  • April 4 through April 7: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • April 10 through April 14: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • April 17 through April 21: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • April 24: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  • April 25: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

  • April 26 through April 28: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  • April 29: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • April 30: 1 to 5 p.m.

Early voting on the Monday before the primary has been eliminated.

Anyone with questions about early voting should call the Board of Elections at 330-343-8819.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Early voting hours change for May primary in Ohio