COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio House Bill 458, which creates vast changes to Ohio's election system awaits Gov. Mike DeWine's signature after clearing both houses of the GOP-controlled General Assembly.
The bill is structured around election system changes, including the requirement for voters to have a photo ID in order to cast their ballot.
"I think it makes it much more difficult to vote," said ACLU of Ohio Deputy Policy Director Collin Marozzi. "I think it adds unjustified barriers to the ballot."
The bill allows counties to use drop boxes, but are limited to one per county. It will also give voters fewer days to apply for absentee ballots and vote early in-person.
According to the ACLU of Ohio, the bill would impact around one million Ohioans immediately because they do not have a photo ID.
Those who oppose the bill, including Marozzi and the ACLU, say Ohio's election system is strong.
Governor DeWine agreed that the election system in Ohio is strong in comments made on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
"It's easy to vote, hard to cheat, so I think we already have a good system in the state of Ohio," said Gov. DeWine.
Marozzi told 3News the state would have to educate voters quickly if the bill is signed into law.
"The state of Ohio has to undertake a massive public education campaign to make sure voters know these new hoops are in front of them and that voters must jump through them in order to cast their ballot," said Marozzi.