Judge blocks Ohio proof-of-citizenship law for voter registration

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Ohio from enforcing a new requirement that people provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote at a motor vehicle bureau.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed the measure in March 2025, amending the state’s “motor voter” law to require that individuals show a U.S. passport, birth certificate or other accepted form of citizenship proof when registering to vote while simultaneously applying for a driver’s license or state ID card.

U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. ruled that the process likely conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) because it demands more than the “minimum amount of information necessary” compared with Ohio’s other voter registration methods.

“The record shows, and Defendants acknowledge, that signed attestation to U.S. citizenship is ‘the minimum amount of information necessary,’ to enable Ohio’s election officials to assess voter eligibility and administer other parts of the election process,” Oliver wrote in a 54-page opinion .

Ohio is among several states that have implemented proof-of-citizenship requirements within the past year amid a GOP push to tighten voting restrictions ahead of the November midterms over unsubstantiated claims of widespread noncitizen voting.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) said shortly after the ruling was handed down that he “strongly” disagreed and would immediately appeal.

“Under this order, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles would be required to offer a voter registration form to a person who’s applying for a driver’s license, even if that person can’t verify that they’re a citizen,” he added in a statement.

The challenge was brought by Red Wine & Blue and the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans, two groups that argued the Ohio statute was preempted by the NVRA and should not be enforceable.

The judge agreed, also finding that the state was unlawfully offering voter registration only to applicants who successfully obtained a license, rather than extending the option to everyone who submits an application, as required by the NVRA.

“To interpret this section of the NVRA otherwise would allow States to make registering to vote at the BMV more onerous, and could result in fewer voter registrations because the opportunity to apply was not proactively offered to otherwise eligible citizens,” Oliver, an appointee of former President Clinton, wrote.

The ruling comes just weeks before the Buckeye State’s voter registration deadline for the midterm elections, which falls on Oct. 5.

“With the registration deadline just weeks away, eligible Ohioans will now have the opportunity to register to vote at the BMV without having to produce unnecessary paperwork that is not required by federal law,” said Ben Stafford, a partner at Elias Law Group who is representing the plaintiffs.