YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine deserves to be commended for his recent veto of House Bill 472.

The bill started out as legislation waiving fees for birth certificate copies for homeless individuals but lawmakers added provisions they argued were needed to provide greater security in upcoming elections. Those provisions called for voters – with some exceptions – to provide photo identification to cast absentee ballots by mailing a copy of their driver’s license or state identification card to request a ballot. 

Provisions of the legislation also would have created an online portal that would require Ohio residents to upload a photo of their ID to request a ballot.

DeWine wasn’t persuaded the legislation was needed. 

“House Bill 472 would not discourage fraud, would not add any real security, and would create an additional and significant burden for Ohioans who vote by mail,” he said in a statement issued following his veto.

“Ohio does a good job of administering elections, as we have provided ample opportunities to cast votes, while avoiding the problems we have seen in recent federal elections in other states,” he also said. “As Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has said, ‘We’ve ensured Ohio elections are the gold standard nationwide.’”

At the federal level, members of the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives have passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility – or SAVE – Act. The Senate has not acted on the legislation, a priority of President Donald Trump, which would require presenting documents such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate or military ID – not always readily available or inexpensive – to vote.  

As admirable a goal as preventing people from voting illegally might be, it’s one that should be balanced against the equally admirable goal of ensuring that every eligible voter is able to do so. 

For years, in Ohio and elsewhere, far more attention has been placed on the former rather than the latter, despite documented cases of voter fraud being exceedingly rare. As we mark America’s 250th birthday, it seems more relevant to encourage more people to participate in our democracy.