COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two Republican Ohio state senators have introduced a bill to eliminate absentee ballot drop boxes and mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration and updates.
The legislation requires citizenship verification when voters register or update details like name or address. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles typically holds citizenship records, but if unavailable, county boards of elections will send notices. Failure to respond to two notices within four weeks prompts the secretary of state to cancel the voter’s registration and refer the case to the attorney general. The same applies to voters who cancel registration after a notice or fail to provide documents within four days of casting a provisional ballot.
County boards must refer registrations from ineligible individuals, even if submitted in error, to county prosecutors. The bill also bans ballot drop boxes and requires an attestation form for anyone delivering another person’s ballot.
The measure addresses concerns about election security, though noncitizen voting remains rare. A University of Maryland study estimates over 21 million Americans lack updated citizenship documents, potentially complicating compliance, especially for those with name changes due to marriage or divorce, who must provide both citizenship proof and legal documentation.
The bill also mandates badges for paid signature gatherers to increase transparency in petition campaigns, though enforcement details for small-scale efforts remain unclear.