Sen. Husted urges action on photo ID requirement to vote

WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) delivered a speech on the Senate floor Monday highlighting the need for citizens to show a photo ID when voting to help secure American elections.

As the only Republican Senator with experience as serving as Secretary of State, Husted is leading the effort to implement nationwide photo ID requirements, something more than 80% of Americans support.

With 23 states – including Ohio – already requesting voters present photo ID, Husted points to Ohio’s elections as the gold standard for being both secure and accessible.

In March 2026, Husted offered a clean, straightforward amendment that would have required voters to present a photo ID when casting a ballot. Senate Democrats blocked the amendment from receiving a vote.

Key excerpts from Husted include:

“The people of Ohio have twice trusted me as their chief elections officer, having served two terms as Ohio Secretary of State in that time.”

“When Ohio was a very purple state, we were the focus of the nation. I administered those elections, and I made my mission clear to make Ohio a state where it was easy to vote and hard to cheat.”

“In Ohio, we implemented the photo ID requirement at the polls and with the photo ID requirement intact, there was no evidence of voter suppression.”

“In fact, with all of those election integrity measures in place in the 2024 presidential election, we produced the second highest turnout in the last four presidential elections.”

“Photo ID doesn't just protect election integrity, though, it does more. It makes our elections work better.”

“A secure photo ID is faster, it's simpler, it's more objective.

“It helps elections officials do their jobs more efficiently, delivers results more quickly, and gives Americans greater confidence that the eligible voter casting the ballot.”

“There's no more unifying issue for Americans on election integrity than photo ID.

“The vast majority of American people support requiring a photo ID you see it: poll after poll after poll.”

“Americans deserve confidence in elections supported by election integrity measures like photo ID.”

“And ultimately, more trust in our elections gives us more trust in the government of the people that were elected.”

“Let's get this done. It's long past time to get the photo ID portion of the SAVE America Act passed. Let's do it. The time is now.”