A U.S. District Court judge on Tuesday blocked an Ohio law that required residents to present documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote at Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices.
U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. in Cleveland issued a preliminary injunction against the provision. The law, enacted in 2025 as part of a transportation bill signed by Gov. Mike DeWine, applied specifically to motor-voter registrations.
Oliver ruled the requirement conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. He found that a written attestation of U.S. citizenship provides election officials with sufficient information to assess eligibility. The injunction prevents state officials from requiring the documents before offering voter registration opportunities at motor vehicle offices.
Advocacy groups challenged the law under the federal statute. Nearly one-third of Ohioans register to vote through the BMV.
