08/27/2025

Voting Rights Groups Sue over Ohio Law Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote at BMV

The suit alleges the rule conflicts with federal law

A new law requiring Ohioans prove their citizenship when registering to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is being challenged in federal court. It claims that provision of the transportation budget, which took effect in June, violates the National Voter Registration Act, also known as the Motor Voter Law.

"Ohio law now requires that an applicant provide unspecified, additional 'proof of United States citizenship' before they are offered the opportunity to register to vote at the BMV," the lawsuit said. "Ohio is not free to impose an additional requirement for voter registration when that requirement conflicts with federal law."

The suit was filed against Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Ohio's Registrar of Motor Vehicles Charles Norman by Red, Wine & Blue, a national left-leaning group aimed at suburban women. The Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans is also a plaintiff. The groups are represented by Columbus-based election law attorney Don McTigue and by Marc Elias, a Democratic lawyer who has filed, and won, dozens of election-related lawsuits across the country.

Please select this link to read the complete article from WYSO-93.1.