David Skolnick

There are a number of changes being implemented starting with this primary election. But because turnout will be low this year, most people won’t see the changes until the 2024 presidential election.

The change getting the most attention is a requirement that those voting early in-person or at polling locations on the day of the election now have to show a specific type of photo identification.

Those voters need one of the following: a driver’s license, a state ID card, a passport, a passport card or a military ID.

No longer permissible are bank statements, pay stubs, utility bills, government checks or the last four digits of a person’s Social Security number.

However, those who vote by mail don’t need a photo ID. They can still use either the last four digits of their Social Security number or their driver’s license ID number.

The new law stems, at least in part, from former President Donald Trump and several of his supporters stating that mass voter fraud cost him the 2020 election. Civil suits arguing that point were defeated in courts nationwide. Trump also objected to voting by mail, but this bill does little to change that.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who backed the election bill, has repeatedly said when it comes to voting in Ohio, it’s hard to cheat.

Each year, there are isolated examples of people trying to vote twice, including in the Mahoning Valley, that are often dismissed by county boards of elections because of confusion. For example, a person asked for an absentee ballot by mail and returns it but isn’t sure it will make it back to the board of elections in time, so that person then shows up at the polling location to vote. These issues are routinely caught.

LaRose last year disclosed that about 75 people were referred for potential prosecution for allegedly voting in one state and then illegally voting a second time in Ohio during the 2020 election.

The new policy has drawn criticism from groups including military veterans, out-of-state college students and senior citizens who are concerned they won’t be permitted to vote.

Tom McCabe, director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections, said less than 1 percent of voters in that county don’t use a photo ID.

It isn’t tracked in Trumbull County, but Stephanie Penrose, its elections director, said the number is “very low.”

McCabe points out that those who don’t have the correct photo ID or don’t want to get a free state ID can still vote by mail as long as they provide the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Critics say disenfranchising any voters ä which this law will do ä is wrong.

While this is being implemented now, so few people are going to vote in the May 2 primary that it will go virtually undetected.

Also, most voters in Mahoning aren’t even eligible to vote in the primary with only 68 of the 212 precincts open. In Trumbull, 100 of the 158 voting precincts are open for this primary.

Turnout in the general election will be better, but expected to be low.

Depending on the competitiveness of next year’s primaries for president ä and with Democrat Joe Biden planning to run for re-election it won’t be high for that party ä many voters without the correct photo ID won’t be impacted by this law until the November 2024 general election. That gives them plenty of time to get a state ID card.

What is probably the most significant voting change is requests for mail ballots have to be postmarked seven days before an election. It used to be three days prior.

This was a practical decision because if you put a request in the mail on the Saturday before an election, the chances were very, very slim that it would get to your board of elections, be processed and then in your hands to vote and be time-stamped by the postal service by Monday evening.

The new law changes that. But like it was before, the longer a person waits to request a mail ballot and turn it in,the less likely their vote will count.