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Help Stop Ohio's SAVE Act

Updated Tuesday 10/28/25 at 3:30 pm

It’s hard to explain how dangerous Ohio’s SAVE Act is. This bill (SB 153 and its identical twin HB 233) is Ohio’s version of the federal SAVE Act. It would stop tens of thousands (potentially hundreds of thousands) of eligible Ohioans from voting. It would criminalize democracy in Ohio.

Politicians know your vote is powerful. That’s why they’re trying to pass this bill to shield themselves from you. Their efforts must be stopped. State government is not legitimate if you don’t have the ability to vote it in or out.

ONE citizen denied their right to vote is too many — and this bill would stop thousands of citizens from voting.

Angry? Here are several actions you can take to help stop this bill.

WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO:

Ohio’s SAVE Act would require “documentary proof of citizenship.” It would force citizens to provide intensive documentation in order to register to vote/update voter registration. This means:

  • Many Ohioans could only register to vote at the BMV or county Board of Elections
  • It would be much harder to hold voter registration drives
  • It would be riskier for Ohioans to carry voter registration forms or QR codes at local events
  • Far fewer people would be able to use Ohio's online voter registration system

Ohio’s SAVE Act would also require your ID to match your voter information exactly.

  • You could be forced to vote provisionally if:
  • Your middle initial is listed on your voter registration but not on your license
  • You moved in the past 8 years but didn’t update your license (most Ohio drivers only have to update their license every 8 years!)
  • Your voter registration says Michael but your license says Mike
  • You changed OR hyphenated your last name when you got married
  • You have ever changed your name for any reason at any time
  • BMV data is wrong or not updated
  • You don't have a driver license or state ID 
  • And any Ohioan could be flagged at any time. The bill requires Ohio to constantly check voter records against the BMV and Social Security databases to identify these "mismatches.”
  • This would force tens of thousands (potentially hundreds of thousands) of eligible voters to vote provisionally AND go to the BMV to prove their identity before their vote can be counted.

Under Ohio’s SAVE Act, if you are forced to vote provisionally for ANY reason, and you fail to provide proper documentation afterward, your voter registration will be canceled.

  • How many Ohioans each year will THINK they are registered to vote and will find out too late that their registration was canceled?

Under Ohio’s SAVE Act, if voters fail to respond to voter confirmation notices sent to them through the mail within 14 days of the second notice, they could face PROSECUTION.

  • Many eligible Ohioans would be scared to register to vote at all.

Ohio’s SAVE Act bans ALL ballot drop boxes. Even the ones outside your county Board of Elections.

  • This will create LONG lines to return ballots to the Board of Elections in-person.
  • It ignores Ohioans who need to return ballots at odd hours due to work, school, or child care

Ohio’s SAVE Act requires ALL newly registered voters and recently updated voters to vote provisionally until their citizenship is verified.

  • How long will that take? How many people will be forced to vote provisionally due to bureaucracy?

Ohio’s SAVE Act is a direct attack on Ohio’s citizen-led ballot initiative process

  • It places petition committee members and petition circulators in legal jeopardy
  • It purposefully increases harassment of petition circulators
  • It invents more reasons to invalidate petitions and signatures

Ohio’s SAVE Act would require anyone who circulates a ballot initiative petition to sign away their Fifth Amendment rights

  • Anyone who circulates a petition would be consenting to come in and testify about the ballot initiative if requested
  • Anyone who circulates a petition would be consenting to potentially be investigated by the state Attorney General about the ballot initiative
  • Per ACLU Ohio, under this law, “anyone who circulates a ballot initiative petition would be guilty until proven innocent”
  • Per the Fair Districts Coalition, this bill “threatens petition committee members and circulators with politically motivated investigations”

Ohio’s SAVE Act purposefully increases harassment against petition circulators

  • This bill would require compensated (paid) circulators to wear identifying badges, which would lead to trackers, harassment, and other scare tactics used against petition circulators
  • “Compensated circulators” would even apply to volunteers if they receive free food or a t-shirt at campaign events.

Ohio’s SAVE Act would greatly increase the number of petitions and signatures that would be invalidated

  • One example — Ohioans could no longer register people to vote and get their petition signature at the same time.
  • Every signer’s voter registration would have to be current before they sign the petition.

RESOURCES:

Resources from the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition (OVRC):

ACTIONS TO TAKE:


1.) Tell these senators that SB 153 is unAmerican and unacceptable:

Draft Script (Remember, you're talking to a staffer! Be polite!)

  • Hello. My name is [NAME]. I am a registered Ohio voter. I'm calling about Ohio's version of the SAVE Act — SB 153 and HB 233.
  • This is one of the most [unAmerican / outrageous / dangerous / disturbing] bills Ohio has ever seen. It claims to be securing our elections, but it would actually prevent tens of thousands of LEGAL voters from participating in the political process.
  • [IF APPLICABLE, share your personal experience with barriers to getting documents like birth certificate, marriage license, name change proof, etc.] Ohioans should not be punished for red tape.
  • I need to know that the senator will not criminalize democracy. Will they help STOP SB 153 and HB 233?
  • IF THEY AGREE WITH YOU, thank you and let them know you will be sharing their response with your friends and family
  • IF THEY AREN’T SURE, let them know you will be calling back
  • IF THEY DISAGREE, let them know you will be sharing their response publicly — and urging everyone to call them


Senate General Government Committee Chair — Kristina Roegner:

Senate General Government Committee Member — Steve Huffman:

Senate General Government Committee Member — Bill Reineke:

Senate General Government Committee Member — Jane Timken:

Your state senator

Your state representative

2.) Share these graphics


3.) Make/share video clips of a recent SB 153 hearing!

4.) Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE) — OVRC can help you!

  • Tell your community where you stand. Speak out about this dangerous bill.
  • Ohio says NO to SB 153 and HB 233
  • Do not criminalize democracy
  • Help stop Ohio’s SAVE Act
  • Share your personal experience with barriers to getting documents like birth certificate, marriage license, name change proof, etc.

5.) Spread the word about Ohio’s SAVE Act


Share any of these resources on social media — make sure everyone knows about this disastrous bill:

  • Ohio says NO to SB 153 and HB 233
  • Do not criminalize democracy
  • Help stop Ohio’s SAVE Act

6.) Sign this form to say you want to submit testimony opposing Ohio’s SAVE ACT

  • OVRC will contact you any time testimony is needed!


7.) Use this ACLU Ohio form to contact legislators

  • Quick and easy to use!