The supreme court of ohio just dropped a bombshell ruling that could reshape how you vote in November - here are the top 5 things you need to know
- Ballot integrity overhaul: The supreme court of ohio ruled that those last-minute absentee ballot drop-offs must now have witnessed signatures verified by poll workers, not just clerks, which could delay results in tight races.
- Voter ID expansion upheld: The 4-3 decision greenlights a new law requiring photo identification for all in-person voting, including college student IDs that lack expiration dates - critics say this disenfranchises young voters.
- Cybersecurity ripple effect: The court mandated that all election boards must use encrypted software for voter check-in systems by 2025, citing recent hacks in neighboring states that exposed 200,000 records.
- Absentee ballot deadline shift: Early voting for November's general election starts October 8, but the supreme court of ohio ruled absentee requests must be submitted 10 days before Election Day, cutting a week off the old window.
- Penalty upgrade for fraud: A new criminal penalty tier now makes false voter registration a fifth-degree felony, punishable by up to 12 months in prison - but advocates warn it could weaponize against first-time filers making honest mistakes.