DeWine vetoes 2 bills in Ohio, including one requiring photo ID to mail in ballots

State Watch DeWine vetoes 2 bills in Ohio, including one requiring photo ID to mail in ballots Comments: by Jordan Unger - 06/25/26 12:37 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Jordan Unger - 06/25/26 12:37 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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COLUMBUS (WJW) – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed two bills, including one that would add a new requirement for absentee voters in the state.

The governor’s office announced Wednesday night that DeWine signed multiple bills into law. He also vetoed House Bill 472 and House Bill 173.

HB 472, sponsored by Ohio Rep. Jodi Salvo (R-Bolivar), would require absentee voters to include a copy of their photo identification with their ballot starting in 2027, as Nexstar’s WJW previously reported.

In a statement, DeWine said the bill is an additional burden for Ohioans who vote by mail.

He also said the bill would not add any real security, stating that Ohio’s election system is strong and is widely regarded as one of the most secure and well-administered in the U.S.

“While on paper one can make the case that there is a pathway for absentee voters to overcome the hurdles to voting that this bill creates, if the net result is that a number of voters will be deterred from making the attempt to vote, that result is hurtful — not helpful — to our efforts to include all of our citizens in the most basic act that involves them in our democratic process,” DeWine wrote. “The provision in H.B. 472 that allows for online absentee ballot applications is much needed, and I commend the Legislature for passing it. It is unfortunate that it is in a bill that I must veto.”

Meanwhile, HB 173, sponsored by State Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson), focuses on submetered utility services.

“The Supreme Court of Ohio has recently held that submetering companies, which buy and resell electricity at a profit, are public utilities regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Substitute House Bill 173 would exempt submetering companies from the definition of a public utility, although the Public Utilities Commission would still retain oversight authority,” DeWine said, in part, regarding his veto decision. “However, while this bill does contain some consumer protections, they are not as robust as those afforded to customers of Ohio’s electric utilities.”

The governor’s office provided the following descriptions on several bills that DeWine signed into law on Wednesday:

Senate Bill 19, sponsored by State Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware), with regard to academic intervention services at public schools, the list of approved diagnostic assessments, state achievement assessments, career-technical education for home-educated students, the presentation of information by youth organizations, and community schools of quality designations.
Senate Bill 52, sponsored by State Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), to designate multiple memorial highways, including the “Congressman David Hobson Memorial Highway,” and to create multiple specialty license plates.
Senate Bill 106, sponsored by State Sen. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), regarding electric vehicle charging stations and to make corrections to provisions of Senate Bill 103 of the 136th General Assembly.
Senate Bill 179, sponsored by State Sen. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), to require incarcerating institutions to verify the veteran status of incarcerated individuals.
Senate Bill 219, sponsored by State Sen. Al Landis (R-Dover), to make changes to the law governing oil and gas wells.
House Bill 170, sponsored by State Reps. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-New Waterford) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabrina), to establish a process to regulate carbon capture and storage technologies and the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide for long-term storage.
House Bill 268, sponsored by State Reps. Latyna M. Humphrey (D-Columbus) and Gary Click (R-Vickery), to modify when a person may file a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment.

Additionally, DeWine signed another bill, but he issued a line-item veto:

House Bill 479, sponsored by State Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland), to make appropriations and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.

The governor issued the following statement about the line-item veto:

This item would terminate previously appropriated funding to the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia. This funding termination would disrupt economic development related to the Baileys Trail System that is already in progress. In my time as Governor, I have worked to foster the economic development of Ohio’s outdoor recreation sector, and this item would unnecessarily harm this development in the Appalachian region of Ohio. Therefore, the veto of this item is in the public interest.

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