Issue 3: TO REQUIRE VOTERS TO PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION IN ORDER TO VOTE

Argument for

By Representative Adam Bird, Representative Heidi Workman, Senator Theresa Gavarone, and Senator Jane Timken

Appeal to FearLoaded LanguageGlittering GeneralitiesExaggeration/HyperboleBandwagon Appeal

Vote YES on Issue 3 Protect Our Elections, Fight Voter Fraud A YES vote on Issue 3 protects Ohio’s elections by placing photo ID requirements for voters into Ohio’s Constitution, safeguarding Ohio’s voters from imposters seeking to steal their vote. Requiring a photo ID helps verify a voter’s identity and ensures that only legal votes are counted.

Appeal to Fear · “Fight Voter Fraud”, “imposters seeking to steal their vote” — Evokes the threat of voter fraud and people stealing votes to push a YES vote.

Loaded Language · “imposters”, “steal their vote” — Emotionally charged words like 'imposters' and 'steal' are used to provoke a reaction rather than state facts.

Glittering Generalities · “Protect Our Elections” — Vague positive framing like 'Protect Our Elections' sounds noble without specifics.

Exaggeration/Hyperbole · “ensures that only legal votes are counted” — Overstates the effect of photo ID as guaranteeing only legal votes are counted.

This commonsense requirement will protect Ohio’s elections and is the standard to obtain a job, rent an apartment, board a plane, or drive a car.

• Fighting Fraud: Photo ID checks are a commonsense method to verify identity and detect fraudsters, keeping them from violating a voter’s most-fundamental right—the right to vote.

• Faith in Fair Elections: Issue 3 not only helps prevent fraud, but also improves people’s faith and confidence in our elections by adding broadly supported requirements to our Constitution. Requiring photo ID to vote is backed by a landslide of voters nationally and in Ohio, repeatedly polling with over 80% support.

Bandwagon Appeal · “broadly supported requirements”, “backed by a landslide of voters nationally and in Ohio, repeatedly polling with over 80% support” — Presents the measure as 'broadly supported' to imply it must be right because many people back it.

Glittering Generalities · “Faith in Fair Elections”, “improves people’s faith and confidence” — Uses vague, positive words like 'faith', 'fair' and 'confidence' to sell the measure without specifics.

• Safeguarding the Future: States without constitutional voter photo ID requirements have recently repealed photo ID laws. Election laws should not change dramatically every few years based on shifting political majorities, and a constitutional protection provides stability, reliability, and trust in the system.

• Commonsense Compliance: Issue 3 will not burden Ohio’s voters because photo ID is currently in state law and free state ID cards are available to voting-age residents. Issue 3 also continues to provide alternative methods of compliance to voters who have sincere religious objections. Photo ID is a proven method to protect Ohio’s elections and improve voter confidence.

If you can show an ID to drive a car, you can show an ID to decide the future of our state and our country. Protect Our Elections, Fight Fraud, Vote YES on Issue 3.

Glittering Generalities · “Protect Our Elections” — Uses vague, positive-sounding slogans about protecting elections without any specific substance.

Loaded Language · “Fight Fraud” — Frames the measure as a fight against fraud, an emotionally charged framing implying widespread fraud.

From ohiosos.gov, the official voter guide.

Argument against

By Senator Bill DeMora and Representatives Desiree Tims and Terrence Upchurch

Loaded LanguageAppeal to FearCard StackingName CallingScapegoating

Vote NO on Issue 3 - A Blatant Political Attack on Your Right to Vote Unneeded and Unpopular Issue 3 seeks to scare Ohioans into not trusting our election system to boost weak political candidates. Photo Identification is already the law and this amendment locks in voter burden with no voter protections.

Groups from across the political spectrum from gun rights groups, labor unions, and Ohioans across the state opposed Issue 3 for failing to provide any concrete benefit. Vote No because Issue 3 tries to address an issue that does not exist. Voter impersonation is essentially nonexistent! Ohio’s elections are safe and secure.

Fails to Protect Your Right to Vote Issue 3 fails to provide any safety measures for our elections while leaving many of our voting rights, such as the right to vote early and the right to free voter IDs, open to attacks by extremists. Issue 3 leaves any form of voting other than in-person open to being revoked or restricted in the future.

Loaded Language · “open to attacks by extremists” — Uses the charged label 'extremists' and 'attacks' to provoke an emotional reaction instead of describing specific actors or actions.

Appeal to Fear · “leaving many of our voting rights, such as the right to vote early and the right to free voter IDs, open to attacks by extremists”, “open to being revoked or restricted in the future” — Suggests voting rights are under threat from extremists and will be lost, to create anxiety about the measure.

Vote No because Issue 3 provides no protection for your ability to vote absentee, including for servicemembers overseas, students, working parents, and seniors. Bans Innovation Constitutional amendments remove flexibility exactly where flexibility is needed. Issue 3 blocks county issued veterans IDs and digital military IDs currently in use.

Today in Ohio you can use your digital wallet to fly but not to vote. This amendment locks out future technology that will be both more secure and more available. Vote No because Issue 3 is nothing more than a partisan power grab by out-of-state elites who want to rig Ohio’s elections. Vote NO on Issue 3

Card Stacking · “locks out future technology that will be both more secure and more available” — Presents only the claimed benefits of future technology while ignoring any counterarguments or what the amendment actually does.

Loaded Language · “partisan power grab”, “rig Ohio’s elections” — Emotionally charged wording like 'power grab' and 'rig' is used to provoke a reaction rather than state facts.

Name Calling · “out-of-state elites” — Labels opponents derogatorily as 'out-of-state elites' to discredit them instead of addressing their arguments.

Scapegoating · “out-of-state elites who want to rig Ohio’s elections” — Blames a vaguely defined group of outside elites for an alleged scheme against Ohio's elections.

From ohiosos.gov, the official voter guide.

Supporting

No registered committee supporting Issue 3 found as of 2026-10-21.

Opposing

No registered committee opposing Issue 3 found as of 2026-10-21.