Ohio voters will not have to provide a full nine-digit Social Security number as an identifier, nor would they be able to register to vote online, under a bill headed to Gov. John Kasich for his signature.
Lawmakers are already changing provisions in a recently passed election-overhaul bill that doesn’t take effect until Sept. 30. As part of a deal between House and Senate leaders, the House agreed two weeks ago to approve House Bill 194, the election overhaul, after the Senate agreed to later remove certain objectionable provisions.
The House-passed bill included a number of provisions advocated by Secretary of State Jon Husted. One required a full nine-digit Social Security number for voters choosing that as their identifier when they registered to vote or cast a provisional ballot. Another allowed people to register to vote or update their registration online.
Citing concerns about identity theft, House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, has said that he and several GOP representatives had problems with requiring Ohioans to use a full Social Security number.
Full Article: Bill edits overhaul of state election laws | The Columbus Dispatch.