Gavarone, Brenner Introduce Bill to Require Proof of Citizenship to Vote

COLUMBUS—State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and State Senator Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) have introduced Senate Bill 153 to protect the integrity of Ohio's elections.

“Ohio is the gold standard when it comes to running elections," said Senator Gavarone. "Senate Bill 153 addresses areas of the election law we can improve, including an extra layer of protection to enforce our state constitution's citizenship requirement. This is a simple fix that strengthens trust and integrity in our institutions."

“Having only legal voters cast a ballot each election should be common sense,” said Senator Brenner. “This bill makes sure that Ohio has fair and reliable elections so that every time a vote is cast, no one can doubt that their vote will be secure.”

Senate Bill 153 ensures only legal citizens are voting in our elections. Citizenship must be verified upon a voter's registration or after updating their registration. The bill also requires that the Secretary of State regularly review statewide voter rolls to identify potential non-citizens. The bill also bans the use of drop boxes.

After introducing this legislation, President Trump issued an Executive Order that mirrors SB 153 in many ways. “I was very excited to see President Trump’s Executive Order closely aligns with the work we have done in Ohio and the work we will continue with Senate Bill 153,” said Senator Gavarone. 

The legislation has been referred to the Senate General Government Committee for further consideration.