Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has incurred the wrath of MAGA supporters and diehard conservatives across the Buckeye State and beyond after he opted to veto a GOP-backed election bill that would have required absentee voters to include a copy of their photo ID with their ballots, shooting down a measure that many believe would have added a layer of election security.
DeWine’s office announced on June 24, 2026 that the governor signed several pieces of legislation into law, but slapped down House Bill 472 and House Bill 173. HB 472, sponsored by state Rep. Jodi Salvo, would have required all residents of Ohio who are voting absentee to include a copy of their photo ID along with their ballots starting in 2027.
Giving the same line that Democrats often spew forth when attempting to defend their opposition to requiring photo identification to vote, DeWine said making the bill into an official law would lead to the creation of a new burden for those who cast their ballots by mail, arguing that it would not truly improve election security.
According to a report from Trending Politics News, the GOP governor also said the Buckeye State already has a strong election system in place that is considered to be one of the best and most secure in the country. A number of voters and those in the Ohio legislature disagree with DeWine’s assessment and want to see additional layers of security added to the system.
“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 said in his statement.
“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,” the governor added. The veto is likely to leave conservatives who see the critical importance of preserving election integrity feeling frustrated, especially after years of pushing for stricter voting rules.
DeWine also rejected HB 173, a bill that was sponsored by state Rep. David Thomas, that dealt with 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,” DeWine’s statement read.
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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,” he continued, going on to add, “However, while this bill does contain some consumer protections, they are not as robust as those afforded to customers of Ohio’s electric utilities.”
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