Democratic wave voters still wrote voter ID into three state constitutions

Democrats won seats up and down the ballot on Nov. 3. On voting rules, though, voters sent a mixed message. Fifteen statewide measures dealt with how elections are run. Voters approved 10 of them and rejected four, and one was still too close to call, according to a Ballotpedia tally published Tuesday ¹.

Voter identification was the biggest fight. Six states voted on measures to create or expand voter ID requirements in their state constitutions. Three passed and three failed ². Counting an Oklahoma measure approved on Aug. 25, there were seven voter ID measures on state ballots this year. That is the most ever in a single year. The old record was three, set in 2022 ².

On tapeWSYX ABC 6 · Nov 4

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Where voter ID won

In Ohio, Issue 3 passed with 65% of the vote ¹¹. It puts the state's existing photo ID rule into the Ohio Constitution. To vote in person, you must show a government-issued photo ID, such as an unexpired Ohio driver's license, a U.S. passport or a military ID ¹¹. Republican lawmakers put Issue 3 on the ballot. The bill behind it passed on party lines, with Republicans voting yes and Democrats voting no ⁵.

Issue 3 takes effect right away ¹⁰. It does not require ID to vote by mail, but it would allow lawmakers to add that requirement by passing a new law ⁵. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for governor, supported the measure. That was a break from her party's usual position ⁵.

From Channel GOPAmy Acton on the ad that made Ohioans think Vivek doesn't share their Amy Acton · 271 plays · captioned, with the source named

Allison Russo, the Democrat just elected as Ohio's secretary of state, said she voted against it. She said her worry is not voter ID itself but writing a fixed list of approved IDs into the constitution. Her main concerns are early voting, mail voting and ballot drop boxes, and she expects lawsuits that the Ohio Supreme Court may have to decide ⁴.

I think there are some real concerns about that interpretation.

North Carolina voters approved an amendment requiring photo ID for everyone, including people who vote absentee by mail. The final count was 59.6% for and 40.4% against ⁶. In 2018, voters had put a photo ID requirement for in-person voting into the constitution. The new amendment extends it to mail ballots ⁶. In practice, little changes right away. State law already requires mail voters to include a copy of their ID or a completed ID exception form ⁸.

That history matters. North Carolina's Republican-led legislature passed a strict photo ID law in 2013. In July 2016, a federal appeals court struck it down, finding that lawmakers had targeted Black voters with "almost surgical precision" ⁶.

It's difficult to undo it once it's in the constitution.

You're trying to balance security with access.

In Nevada, Question 7 passed with 62% of the vote ⁹. Nevada requires voters to approve an amendment in two separate elections, and this was the second vote ¹. In-person voters will have to show photo ID. Mail voters will have to write the last four digits of their driver's license or Social Security number next to their signature ¹. Ballotpedia says that makes Nevada the 37th state to require ID for in-person voting ¹. Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, who won re-election, is focused on putting the new rule into practice ¹².

Where voter ID lost

Voters in three other states said no. California's Proposition 39 lost 60.4% to 39.6%. It would have required ID at the polls and an ID number on mail ballots ¹. Colorado's Amendment 84 lost 63.3% to 36.7%. It would have required mail voters to provide a state ID number or Social Security number along with their signature ¹. Arizona's Proposition 144 lost 53.3% to 46.7% ¹.

Gains for voting access

Some results went the other way. Virginia voters approved Question 3, 56.6% to 43.4%. It restores voting rights automatically to people with felony convictions once they finish their prison sentence ¹. Until now, a governor or another state official had to act first ¹. Massachusetts approved same-day voter registration, 56.3% to 43.7%, starting Jan. 1, 2028 ¹.

Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia added language to their constitutions saying only U.S. citizens may vote. That brings the number of states with such language to 22 ¹. Alaska approved a similar measure as a state law ¹. In Alaska, a measure to repeal ranked-choice voting was failing 51.8% to 48.1% as of Nov. 9, with 73% of precincts reporting ¹.

Why constitutional amendments are different

That matters because changing a constitution is much harder than changing a law. In Ohio, any future change to voter ID rules now needs voters' approval, either through a measure sent by lawmakers or through a petition with hundreds of thousands of signatures ⁵. A Democratic legislature could not, for example, simply pass a bill allowing student IDs at the polls.

When ID laws are written into state constitutions, it becomes far harder to undo them in the future

The pattern is clear. Voter ID is still popular, even with voters who backed Democrats. In an August Elon University poll of North Carolina likely voters, 63% supported the amendment. That included 33% of Democrats and 62% of independents ⁷. Republicans have used that popularity to lock rules into place right before an election that went badly for them. Democrats in North Carolina, Ohio and Nevada will now work under those rules no matter how many legislative seats they win.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, opposed all three amendments on his state's ballot. Along with voter ID, they included two tax measures. He called them "a con job on the people of North Carolina" ⁸.

VoteRiders, a nonprofit that helps people get voter IDs, said it will expand its work with Nevada voters and election officials. It offers free help at 866-432-8683 ³.

The Record

1. Aug 25, 2026Oklahoma voters approve State Question 846, the first of a record seven voter ID measures on state ballots in 2026 ².
2. Oct 2, 2026WFAE reports that an August Elon University poll found 63% of North Carolina likely voters supported the photo ID amendment ⁷.
3. Nov 3, 2026Ohio's Issue 3 passes with 65%, North Carolina's amendment passes with 59.6%, and Nevada's Question 7 passes with 62%. California, Colorado and Arizona reject their measures ¹¹⁶⁹¹.
4. Nov 4, 2026Ohio Secretary of State-elect Allison Russo says she voted against Issue 3 and expects court fights over it ⁴.
5. Nov 10, 2026Ballotpedia tally: voters approved 10 of 15 statewide election policy measures and rejected four, with one too close to call ¹.

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<h2>Democratic wave voters still wrote voter ID into three state constitutions</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democratic-wave-voters-still-wrote-voter-id-into-three-state-constitutions">The GOP Files</a> on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.</em></p> <p>Democrats won seats up and down the ballot on Nov. 3. On voting rules, though, voters sent a mixed message. Fifteen statewide measures dealt with how elections are run. Voters approved 10 of them and rejected four, and one was still too close to call, according to a Ballotpedia tally published Tuesday .</p> <p>Voter identification was the biggest fight. Six states voted on measures to create or expand voter ID requirements in their state constitutions. Three passed and three failed . Counting an Oklahoma measure approved on Aug. 25, there were seven voter ID measures on state ballots this year. That is the most ever in a single year. The old record was three, set in 2022 .</p> <h2>Where voter ID won</h2> <p>In Ohio, Issue 3 passed with 65% of the vote . It puts the state&#39;s existing photo ID rule into the Ohio Constitution. To vote in person, you must show a government-issued photo ID, such as an unexpired Ohio driver&#39;s license, a U.S. passport or a military ID . Republican lawmakers put Issue 3 on the ballot. The bill behind it passed on party lines, with Republicans voting yes and Democrats voting no .</p> <p>Issue 3 takes effect right away . It does not require ID to vote by mail, but it would allow lawmakers to add that requirement by passing a new law . Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for governor, supported the measure. That was a break from her party&#39;s usual position .</p> <p>Allison Russo, the Democrat just elected as Ohio&#39;s secretary of state, said she voted against it. She said her worry is not voter ID itself but writing a fixed list of approved IDs into the constitution. Her main concerns are early voting, mail voting and ballot drop boxes, and she expects lawsuits that the Ohio Supreme Court may have to decide .</p> <blockquote><p>I think there are some real concerns about that interpretation.</p><p>&mdash; Allison Russo, Ohio secretary of state-elect, D-Ohio</p></blockquote> <p>North Carolina voters approved an amendment requiring photo ID for everyone, including people who vote absentee by mail. The final count was 59.6% for and 40.4% against . In 2018, voters had put a photo ID requirement for in-person voting into the constitution. The new amendment extends it to mail ballots . In practice, little changes right away. State law already requires mail voters to include a copy of their ID or a completed ID exception form .</p> <p>That history matters. North Carolina&#39;s Republican-led legislature passed a strict photo ID law in 2013. In July 2016, a federal appeals court struck it down, finding that lawmakers had targeted Black voters with &quot;almost surgical precision&quot; .</p> <blockquote><p>It&#39;s difficult to undo it once it&#39;s in the constitution.</p><p>&mdash; Pricey Harrison, state representative, D-Guilford County, N.C.</p></blockquote> <blockquote><p>You&#39;re trying to balance security with access.</p><p>&mdash; Mike Schietzelt, state representative, R-Wake County, N.C.</p></blockquote> <p>In Nevada, Question 7 passed with 62% of the vote . Nevada requires voters to approve an amendment in two separate elections, and this was the second vote . In-person voters will have to show photo ID. Mail voters will have to write the last four digits of their driver&#39;s license or Social Security number next to their signature . Ballotpedia says that makes Nevada the 37th state to require ID for in-person voting . Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, who won re-election, is focused on putting the new rule into practice .</p> <h2>Where voter ID lost</h2> <p>Voters in three other states said no. California&#39;s Proposition 39 lost 60.4% to 39.6%. It would have required ID at the polls and an ID number on mail ballots . Colorado&#39;s Amendment 84 lost 63.3% to 36.7%. It would have required mail voters to provide a state ID number or Social Security number along with their signature . Arizona&#39;s Proposition 144 lost 53.3% to 46.7% .</p> <h2>Gains for voting access</h2> <p>Some results went the other way. Virginia voters approved Question 3, 56.6% to 43.4%. It restores voting rights automatically to people with felony convictions once they finish their prison sentence . Until now, a governor or another state official had to act first . Massachusetts approved same-day voter registration, 56.3% to 43.7%, starting Jan. 1, 2028 .</p> <p>Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia added language to their constitutions saying only U.S. citizens may vote. That brings the number of states with such language to 22 . Alaska approved a similar measure as a state law . In Alaska, a measure to repeal ranked-choice voting was failing 51.8% to 48.1% as of Nov. 9, with 73% of precincts reporting .</p> <h2>Why constitutional amendments are different</h2> <p>That matters because changing a constitution is much harder than changing a law. In Ohio, any future change to voter ID rules now needs voters&#39; approval, either through a measure sent by lawmakers or through a petition with hundreds of thousands of signatures . A Democratic legislature could not, for example, simply pass a bill allowing student IDs at the polls.</p> <blockquote><p>When ID laws are written into state constitutions, it becomes far harder to undo them in the future</p><p>&mdash; Lauren Kunis, CEO and executive director, VoteRiders</p></blockquote> <p>The pattern is clear. Voter ID is still popular, even with voters who backed Democrats. In an August Elon University poll of North Carolina likely voters, 63% supported the amendment. That included 33% of Democrats and 62% of independents . Republicans have used that popularity to lock rules into place right before an election that went badly for them. Democrats in North Carolina, Ohio and Nevada will now work under those rules no matter how many legislative seats they win.</p> <p>North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, opposed all three amendments on his state&#39;s ballot. Along with voter ID, they included two tax measures. He called them &quot;a con job on the people of North Carolina&quot; .</p> <p>VoteRiders, a nonprofit that helps people get voter IDs, said it will expand its work with Nevada voters and election officials. It offers free help at 866-432-8683 .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democratic-wave-voters-still-wrote-voter-id-into-three-state-constitutions">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/democratic-wave-voters-still-wrote-voter-id-into-three-state-constitutions.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

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