Antonio Condemns Passage of S.J.R. 10

Today, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued the following statement after Republicans in the Ohio Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 10, which would put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that requires Ohioans to present photo ID to vote, despite Ohio law already requiring voters to do so.

“Republicans have an unpopular gubernatorial candidate, and no change in voter ID law will make up for that,” said Antonio. “While Ohioans struggle to afford their bills, this is another instance of the Majority doing anything but take up legislation to provide economic relief to their constituents, aside from billionaires and their wealthy donors. They are fast-tracking yet another attempt to restrict Ohioans’ right to vote, despite our Secretary of State’s repeated assurances throughout his term in office that Ohio elections are secure.”

Democrats offered amendments that would have expanded the list of acceptable photo ID; required the state to provide free state IDs and support for accessing the documents needed to obtain such ID; allowed same-day voter registration; and restored the provisional ballot protection that was removed in the substitute version. All of these amendments were tabled.

S.J.R. 10 or H.J.R. 9, companion legislation in the House, must pass each chamber with a three-fifths vote by August 5 to get on the ballot this November. 

S.J.R. 10 now heads to the Ohio House for consideration.