As Ohio’s Aug. 8 special election approaches, it’s important for students to know that polling places across the state will only accept a valid photo ID, such as an Ohio driver’s license, to vote.
A new Ohio law, which went into effect in April 2023, changed voting ID requirements, making it more challenging for out-of-state college students to vote.
requires out-of-state students to have specific photo ID, such as an unexpired Ohio driver’s license, a state ID card, a U.S. passport or military card, to vote. The law excludes college identification as acceptable forms of ID.
The law has been called one of the .
Out-of-state students may decide to get an Ohio-issued ID card, but that would invalidate their driver’s license from another state.
Here are the several types of valid photo identification that are acceptable:
Ohio driver's license;
State of Ohio ID card;
Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
A U.S. passport;
A U.S. passport card;
U.S. military ID card;
Ohio National Guard ID card; or
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.
NOTE: An unexpired Ohio driver’s license, state ID card, or interim documentation with your former address IS an ACCEPTABLE form of ID when your current address is in the poll book.
All photo identifications must have the following:
An expiration date that has not passed.
A photograph of the voter.
The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the poll list or in the poll book.
For more information about voter ID requirements, go to .
Ohio voters will decide one issue on their Aug. 8 ballot — State Issue 1, which elevates the standards to qualify for and pass amendments to Ohio’s constitution.
For the 2023 voting schedule and other information, go to
