Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The fight over new voting requirements is heating up ahead of the November election, with voters in nearly a dozen states set to weigh in on changes to election laws.
Voters in six states will decide whether to require a government-issued ID when casting a ballot, while five additional states will consider measures specifying that only U.S. citizens may vote in any election.
Supporters argue the measures would strengthen election security, while opponents say stricter requirements could make it more difficult for some eligible voters to cast ballots.
“It’s usually Latino, Black voters, voters with disability,” said Julia Gomez, a voting rights attorney with the ACLU of Southern California. “The largest number of people who aren’t able to vote when there’s voter ID requirements are people that simply forgot their ID or didn’t have access to their ID on Election Day.”
Ohio state Rep. Adam Bird supports requiring identification.
“We all know you have to have a photo ID to get on a plane, to get a hotel room,” Bird said.
The debate comes as a federal judge blocked an effort in Ohio to require people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote through the state's motor vehicle agency. The judge found the requirement violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which requires states to allow people to register to vote when applying for or receiving a driver's license.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has appealed the ruling, arguing that efforts to investigate potential election crimes are necessary even if such cases are rare.
The state-level efforts come as President Donald Trump continues calling on Congress to pass legislation establishing new voting requirements nationwide.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/nation-world/pushing-the-envelope-trumps-mail-ballot-rule-faces-new-lawsuit-with-midterms-looming
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The fight over new voting requirements is heating up ahead of the November election, with voters in nearly a dozen states set to weigh in on changes to election laws.
Voters in six states will decide whether to require a government-issued ID when casting a ballot, while five additional states will consider measures specifying that only U.S. citizens may vote in any election.
Supporters argue the measures would strengthen election security, while opponents say stricter requirements could make it more difficult for some eligible voters to cast ballots.
“It’s usually Latino, Black voters, voters with disability,” said Julia Gomez, a voting rights attorney with the ACLU of Southern California. “The largest number of people who aren’t able to vote when there’s voter ID requirements are people that simply forgot their ID or didn’t have access to their ID on Election Day.”
Ohio state Rep. Adam Bird supports requiring identification.
“We all know you have to have a photo ID to get on a plane, to get a hotel room,” Bird said.
The debate comes as a federal judge blocked an effort in Ohio to require people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote through the state's motor vehicle agency. The judge found the requirement violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which requires states to allow people to register to vote when applying for or receiving a driver's license.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has appealed the ruling, arguing that efforts to investigate potential election crimes are necessary even if such cases are rare.
The state-level efforts come as President Donald Trump continues calling on Congress to pass legislation establishing new voting requirements nationwide.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/nation-world/pushing-the-envelope-trumps-mail-ballot-rule-faces-new-lawsuit-with-midterms-looming
_______________
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13 WHAM on Facebook: facebook.com/13WHAM
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13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit 13wham.com
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork
