A U.S. District Judge on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction blocking an Ohio law that required residents to provide physical proof of citizenship when registering to vote at state motor vehicle offices. Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. ruled that a written attestation of citizenship is sufficient for state officials to verify a voter's eligibility. The decision comes ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, where a U.S. Senate race in Ohio is expected to influence control of the chamber.
Governor Mike DeWine (R) signed the legislation last year, requiring applicants for driver's licenses or state identification to present documents such as a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization certificate to register to vote. The law was challenged by advocacy groups, including the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans, who argued the requirements violated the 1993 National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The NVRA is a federal law designed to increase voter registration by requiring states to offer the service at motor vehicle departments.
In his ruling, Judge Oliver stated that the NVRA has been successful in expanding voter registration and that the additional documentary requirements were not necessary under federal law. Ben Stafford, an attorney for the plaintiffs with Elias Law Group, stated that eligible voters would now be able to register at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) without producing the extra paperwork. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) previously defended the law, stating it was a "common sense" measure to ensure only citizens are on the rolls.
The decision reinforces the application of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, which prioritizes streamlined registration processes at state agencies. This ruling sets a legal precedent in Ohio that federal registration standards, which rely on signed attestations, take priority over state-level requirements for physical documentation. The outcome of this case may influence how other states approach similar registration requirements, especially as Republican officials in various states have proposed tighter rules based on claims of non-citizen voting.
A Reuters investigation cited in the report found that federal prosecutors have charged 129 people under a 1996 federal "voting by aliens" statute, suggesting the frequency of such occurrences is low. The office of the Ohio Attorney General, which is representing the state, did not immediately comment on the ruling. It is not yet reported if the state will appeal the decision. The preliminary injunction remains in place as the November 3 midterm elections approach.