FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | LINK
“Election integrity doesn’t stop at the mailbox. Ohio should apply the same standards to every ballot, regardless of how it is cast.” — Ken Cuccinelli, National Chairman, Election Transparency Initiative; former Attorney General of Virginia
ETI Supports Ohio Constitutional Amendment to Protect Voter ID Requirements, Urges Inclusion of Absentee Ballots
Arlington, VA — June 9, 2026 —The Election Transparency Initiative (ETI) applauded the Ohio Senate’s passage of Senate Joint Resolution 10, a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine Ohio’s voter photo identification requirements in the state constitution and place the question before voters this November.
Ohio voters have consistently supported commonsense election integrity measures, including voter identification requirements. By placing these protections in the Ohio Constitution, the amendment would help ensure that future legislatures cannot easily weaken safeguards that strengthen voter confidence and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
“Ohio has become a national leader on election integrity, and protecting voter ID requirements in the state constitution is a logical next step,” said Ken Cuccinelli, National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative. “Voters deserve confidence that election safeguards won’t change with every shift in political power.”
While ETI supports the amendment, the organization believes lawmakers should address an important inconsistency involving absentee voting.
“If voter ID belongs in Ohio’s Constitution, it should apply to every ballot—not just the ones cast in person,” Cuccinelli said. “Election integrity doesn’t stop at the mailbox. Ohio has made tremendous progress, but absentee voting should be held to the same standards that apply at the polling place.”
During Senate debate, concerns were raised that the amendment does not address absentee ballots, leaving future legislatures free to alter absentee voting requirements without the same constitutional protections. ETI supports extending voter identification requirements to absentee voting to ensure consistent standards regardless of how a ballot is cast.
Ohio has been at the forefront of election integrity reforms in recent years, including voter ID requirements, improved voter registration list maintenance, and measures designed to ensure elections are conducted accurately, transparently, and securely.
“As this proposal moves forward, Ohio voters will have the opportunity to reinforce a simple principle: every lawful voter should verify who they are before casting a ballot,” Cuccinelli said. “That principle should apply consistently across our election system.”
Media Availability
Ken Cuccinelli is available for television, radio, podcast, and print interviews regarding this and other election related issues.
Members of the media may submit interview requests at:
https://electiontransparency.org/contact/
To request interviews, please include:
- Outlet
- Media type (TV, radio, digital, phone)
- Host name
- Requested time
About the Election Transparency Initiative
ETI works nationwide to advance commonsense election reforms that protect the integrity of the vote and strengthen public trust in election outcomes by enhancing transparency, accountability, and confidence in American elections. Ken Cuccinelli serves as National Chairman of ETI. He previously served as Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and as Attorney General of Virginia.
###