According to the nonprofit organization Ohioans Against Extremism, it’s hard to explain how dangerous Ohio’s SAVE Act is. This bill (SB 153 and its identical twin HB 233) is Ohio’s version of the federal SAVE Act. SB 153 has already had two committee hearings in the Senate, and was introduced in the House last month. If passed, it would stop tens of thousands (potentially hundreds of thousands) of eligible Ohioans from voting. It would criminalize democracy in Ohio. And the most puzzling thing about the federal an Ohio SAVE Acts is that they’re not necessary. It is already illegal for noncitizens to to vote, and as Secretary of State Frank La Rose reported last fall, “voter fraud is exceedingly rare.” Click here to learn more and  take action on this bill.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO:

Ohio’s SAVE Act would require “documentary proof of citizenship.” This likely means you could ONLY register to vote or update your registration at the BMV or county Board of Elections. There are numerous, serious implications related to the voter registration process. Highlights include:

  • No more voter registration drives
  • No more voter registration forms or QR codes at local events
  • No more online voter registration

Among other things, Ohio’s SAVE Act would also be a direct attack on our citizen-led ballot initiative process, and would impose massive unfunded mandates on Boards of Elections across Ohio.

It is worth noting that Ohio REAL ID cards do not indicate citizenship. According to  the League of Women Voters of Ohio, only five states — Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington — display a person’s citizenship. Click here for more on the federal SAVE Act.