Bill would require proof of citizenship before a vote is counted, ban ballot drop boxes and require paid petition circulators to identify themselves

Senators introduced Senate Bill 153 at a first hearing of the Senate General Government Committee, saying the measure would require proof of U.S. citizenship before an elector’s vote is counted, end the use of ballot drop boxes and impose disclosure and identification requirements on paid petition circulators.

Sponsor Senator Gavarone told the committee the bill is aimed at further securing elections and increasing voter confidence. "It's simple. If you're a citizen, you can provide proof of your citizenship. You can vote in our elections. It's it's really that easy," she said.

In sponsor testimony, proponents said the BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) database already verifies citizenship for many voters who use driver’s licenses or state IDs and that documents such as passports and birth certificates would also serve as proof of citizenship. Senator Gavarone said most cases can be verified via the BMV linkage but acknowledged there are situations where additional documents would be required.

The bill would also end use of ballot drop boxes, the sponsor said, citing incendiary attacks on drop boxes in Oregon and Washington as examples of the security risks. Senator Brenner told the committee that in Portland an incendiary device limited damage to three ballots and that devices in Vancouver, Washington, destroyed hundreds of ballots in separate incidents. The sponsor also cited statistics on mailbox availability when arguing that voters have alternate ways to return absentee ballots, saying counties and households have many mailboxes statewide.

The proposal would change petition-circulator rules by requiring anyone compensated for circulating a petition to disclose that they are paid and to wear a badge identifying them as a paid circulator. Committee staff noted the bill analysis language indicates the requirement applies to any petition circulator, not only certain petition types. Several senators asked how boards of elections would enforce the badge requirement, what penalties would apply for accidental noncompliance (for example, a lost badge) and how the changes would affect common paid petition drives for local liquor options and other routine petition work.

Senators who questioned sponsors pressed for evidence that drop boxes have been widely compromised in Ohio. Senator DeMora asked how many ballots returned to drop boxes in Ohio have been damaged; sponsors said they were not aware of Ohio examples and pointed to incidents in other states. Senators also asked about projected fiscal impacts; sponsors said a fiscal analysis is typically produced after bill introduction and is not yet available but suggested eliminating drop boxes could reduce monitoring costs.

During the hearing sponsors said they had identified 38 prior cases in which individuals had voted despite lacking citizenship status; Senator Gavarone described even a single case as unacceptable. Committee members from both parties said they would review the bill analysis and follow-up materials as the bill moves through committee; no committee vote occurred at the first hearing.

The first hearing concluded with members asking for additional details, including a bill fiscal analysis and clarity on the scope and enforcement of the petition-circulator and drop-box provisions.