EXCLUSIVE: Poll Shows Ohio Voters Support Voter ID Amendment

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—With this week’s passage of Senate Joint Resolution 10 in the state Senate, Ohioans are that much closer to voting on a ballot initiative this November that will enshrine photo voter ID into the state constitution.

The passage of SJR 10, with the state House also set to vote on such an effort, comes as Honest Elections Project Action released a new poll—first shared with the Daily Signal—showing “overwhelmingly popular” public support for Voter ID.

Sure enough, according to the HEP Action polling memo, 86% of likely voters in Ohio agree that voters should be required to show a photo ID when they vote, with 68% saying they “strongly agree.” A majority of voters from all political parties, including 99% of Republicans, 90% of independents, and 69% of Democrats say they agree photo ID should be required.

The poll also asked about voters’ thoughts on a constitutional amendment, with 70% indicating they favor a voter ID amendment, with 57% strongly voting in favor. Those in support include 97% of Republicans, 79% of independents, and 48% of Democrats.

“Our latest polling confirms that voter ID is exceedingly popular in Ohio. The Ohio House should quickly pass SJR 10, sending a ballot issue to voters to make voter ID permanent by enshrining it into the state constitution. The Buckeye State deserves to have honest elections where it’s easy to vote and hard to cheat,” Jason Snead, executive director of Honest Elections Project Action, told the Daily Signal.

As members are voting or are set to vote, there are Republicans in the state legislature and grassroots activists concerned that the constitutional amendment as it is written does not go far enough, arguing it doesn’t apply to every voter since photo ID isn’t required for mail-in ballots.

According to the HEP Action memo, 69% would vote for requiring voters to submit a copy of their ID with their ballot. State Rep. Ron Ferguson has introduced HB 577, the Secure Vote Act, which would require photo ID for absentee ballots cast by mail, He previously shared with the Daily Signal how “voters strongly support photo ID for every voter.”

That bill current rests in the General Government Committee.

The HEP Action memo also determined that 70% would vote for an amendment requiring mail-in voters to write their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number on the ballot. This is a provision which state Sen. Jane Timken, a sponsor of SJR 10 who recently spoke to the Daily Signal about the bill, mentioned as one way to safeguard those mail-in ballots.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for governor in Ohio, called last month for a constitutional amendment on voter ID to fully enshrine current state law. He explained restoring trust in elections is one reason such an amendment is necessary.

The polling also spoke to whether the constitutional amendment being on the ballot would make Ohioans more likely to vote in November, with 86% saying they’d be more likely, including 52% who are much more likely. This includes 93% of Republicans who are more likely to vote, as well as 85% of independents and 80% of Democrats.

The poll was conducted May 27-June 2, 2026, with 800 likely voters, including 400 by phone and 400 online. There was an overall margin of error of ± 3.46%.