Ohio
Ohio
GradeB+
Year2024
TierBottom Tier

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Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR

Late in the 2024 session, the Ohio General Assembly passed one new piece of election legislation that will significantly streamline the accuracy of voter rolls and the efficiency of the voter registration process. While this law is a major step forward, the secretary of state also issued a directive limiting the use of drop boxes in the run up to the 2024 election. Recognizing a significant step forward by the Legislature and a moderate step backwards by the secretary of state, Ohio received a B+ on this year’s progress report.

Looking Back

Where Ohio Started at the Beginning of 2024

  • Automatic Voter Registration: No
  • Online Voter Registration: DMV ID
  • Same-Day Registration: No
  • Restoration of Rights: Prison Disenfranchisement
  • Vote by Mail: No-Excuse
  • Electronic Registration Information Center Member: No
  • Early Voting Opportunities: In-Person Absentee
  • ID Requirements: Strict Non-Photo ID

Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for Ohio as of 2024, we considered the state a bottom tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2024 activity against other bottom tier states.

How Our Tier Compares

  • COVI (2024): 45th
  • EPI Score (2024): 22nd
  • CLC State Scorecard (2022): 7/10
  • MAP Democracy Rating (2024): FAIR

2024: This Past Year

Legislative Action

The General Assembly passed one election-related piece of legislation during the 2024 session.

  • HB 74 requires the BMV to use secure electronic transfer to electronically transmit voter registration information from the BMV to the secretary of state. This will significantly improve the security, accuracy, and efficiency of the voter registration process at Ohio motor vehicle offices. Thanks to this change, Ohio’s voter rolls will be more accurate and complete, and the BMV process will be more streamlined and efficient.

Executive Action

  • This past fall, Secretary of State LaRose issued Directive 2024-21 on drop boxes that severely restricted their use. Voters may only return their own personal ballot at a drop box. Anyone returning a ballot for another voter, regardless of whether that other ballot belongs to the voter’s spouse or another close family member, must go inside the county election board office and complete a form before being allowed to drop off the ballot.
  • Secretary LaRose also launched a review of the voter registration process at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles after a local newspaper investigation indicated that non-citizens might have been mistakenly registered to vote. Just a few days after launching the investigation, the office announced that “there are no systemic issues that would lead to non-citizens being offered the chance to register to vote.”
    • Download the Report