Ohio Scraps Plans for Enhanced Driver's Licenses Verifying Citizenship

State lawmakers eliminated a program that would have created IDs accepted for border crossings.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:51pm

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A photorealistic painting of an Ohio state ID card or driver's license in warm, muted tones, with soft shadows and highlights that create a sense of nostalgia and contemplation, conveying the impact of the policy change on Ohio voters.The elimination of enhanced driver's licenses in Ohio leaves voters with fewer options for a standalone citizenship-verified ID, potentially creating additional steps for some residents to prove their eligibility to vote.Columbus Today

Ohio lawmakers have eliminated a program that would have created enhanced driver's licenses, a type of identification that verifies United States citizenship and can be used for crossing into the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean. Enhanced IDs are currently available in five states along the Canadian border, but efforts to bring them to Ohio have faced a long, complicated process that ultimately resulted in their removal from the state's 2026-2027 transportation budget.

Why it matters

The decision to eliminate enhanced driver's licenses in Ohio leaves voters with fewer options for a standalone citizenship-verified ID, potentially creating additional steps for some residents, especially married women who have changed their names, to prove their eligibility to vote without a passport.

The details

Starting in 2017, a bipartisan effort introduced the stipulation for enhanced IDs in House Bill 60, and Ohio lawmakers later authorized them in the state's 2023 transportation budget. However, in 2025, lawmakers removed the requirement entirely through the 2026-2027 transportation budget, HB 54, drawing little attention at the Statehouse. The repeal came as the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, continues to be debated in the U.S. Senate.

  • In 2017, a bipartisan effort introduced the stipulation for enhanced IDs in House Bill 60.
  • In 2023, Ohio lawmakers authorized enhanced IDs in the state's transportation budget.
  • In 2025, lawmakers removed the requirement for enhanced IDs through the 2026-2027 transportation budget, HB 54.

The players

Ohio Lawmakers

State legislators who eliminated the program that would have created enhanced driver's licenses in Ohio.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that maintains the enhanced driver's license program and provides guidance on its use.

Ohio League of Women Voters

A nonpartisan organization that has raised concerns about the impact of the elimination of enhanced IDs on Ohio voters, especially married women who have changed their names.

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What they’re saying

“Without a passport, Ohio voters would have to supplement their government-issued or military IDs with an additional paper document, such as a certified birth certificate, a Record of Birth extract, an adoption decree, a consular report of birth abroad, a Naturalization Certificate/Certificate of Citizenship, or an American Indian Card with the KIC classification.”

— Ohio League of Women Voters

What’s next

As the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, continues to be debated in the U.S. Senate, the elimination of enhanced driver's licenses in Ohio could become a point of focus for voting rights advocates and policymakers.

The takeaway

The decision to eliminate enhanced driver's licenses in Ohio highlights the ongoing debate around voter ID requirements and the challenges some residents may face in proving their eligibility to vote without a passport. This move could have implications for future elections and the accessibility of the voting process in the state.