A U.S. District Judge has temporarily prevented Ohio from enforcing a new rule requiring residents to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote at Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) offices.
The rule was included in a transportation budget signed by Republican Governor Mike DeWine in March 2025.
It mandated that applicants registering at the BMV present documents like passports or birth certificates, while those using other registration methods didn't face this requirement.
Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. argued that this requirement likely conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), a federal law aimed at simplifying voter registration.
He mentioned that the law allows for a signed statement of citizenship as sufficient information for Ohio's election officials.
Ohio’s requirement could restrict voter registration to those who have a driver's license and could discourage eligible citizens from registering.
The lawsuit was filed by groups including Red Wine & Blue and the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans, which argued against the documentary proof requirement since it contradicts federal law.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced plans to appeal the ruling, stressing the state’s need to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote.
LaRose referred to a previous case involving a lawful permanent resident who mistakenly registered to vote, claiming it highlights the necessity of verifying citizenship.
The injunction against the requirement is in effect just before Ohio's voter registration deadline on October 5 for the November 3 midterm elections, allowing residents to register without providing citizenship documents.
The judge's decision facilitates easier voter registration in Ohio by eliminating the need for documentary proof of citizenship at the BMV while the legal battle continues, unless a higher court intervenes.
https://www.newsmax.com/Politics/ohio-frank-larose-voter-registration/2026/08/26/id/1267465/
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