The following guest column is by Ohio Rep. John Becker, a Republican from Union Township. He writes in favor of House Bill 269, which would require Ohio voters to present a photo ID at the polls.



Ohio Rep. John Becker, Republican of Union Township

You present your photo ID to open a bank account, cash a check, apply for a job, unemployment, welfare, Medicaid and Social Security, to drive a car, buy or rent a car, apply for a mortgage, buy a house, get married, purchase alcohol or cigarettes, get on an airplane, adopt a pet, purchase a gun, apply for a hunting or fishing license, rent a hotel room, go to a casino, buy a cell phone, sign up for a rewards card, give a blood donation, pick up a prescription, purchase certain cold medications, and the list goes on and on. After considering all of these daily activities, does it sound irrational to require a photo ID to vote?

House Bill 269 would require voters to show a photo ID to cast a regular ballot on the day of an election. This bill defines photo identification to include an Ohio driver's license or state ID card, a U.S. military ID card, or a U.S. passport.

The purpose of this bill is to discourage fraud and to provide the most basic, common, and reasonable security for voting. It is my belief that by requiring a valid photo ID at the polls, we could significantly discourage and defeat voter fraud of all types whether that is voting under false names, voting twice by individuals registered in more than one state, voting by persons who are in the United States illegally, etc. This bill would increase the public’s confidence in election results which is an essential element in a stable democracy.

Now some of you are probably asking, “But what about individuals who can’t afford an ID? Isn’t that a poll tax?” HB 269 allows for free photo IDs for those who can’t afford to purchase one, specifically for those at or below the federal poverty level. This process can be completed at a local BMV and would require an individual to fill out a form that includes their name, address, date of birth, signature, the current date, and the statements under which the individual qualifies for the free ID card.

At this point you might be wondering, “How do you present a photo ID when voting absentee?” When casting an absentee ballot at a board of elections, an individual would be required to show photo ID and in the case of a mailed absentee ballot, the voter must provide one of the following: their driver’s license number, state ID card number, the last four digits of the their Social Security number, or a copy of the photo ID.

As Americans we use our photo IDs almost every day for one reason or another; whether we’re boarding an airplane or simply driving a car. This is not voter suppression, it’s voter security. When it comes to our ability to voice our opinion in the most democratic of ways, I believe every Ohioan should have the peace of mind knowing every vote has been counted - once.