Ohio Senate committee drops voter photo plan

COLUMBUS (AP) — A requirement for Ohio voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot in person has been dropped from a broader election bill.

An Ohio Senate panel today decided to remove the provision, which was opposed by Democrats and the state’s top elections official. Secretary of State Jon Husted, who’s a Republican, said he was against the photo ID plan because it didn’t give voters other ways to identify themselves, such as with their Social Security numbers.

The committee had added the provision to the bill Tuesday as the GOP-controlled House and Senate work out differences in election bills they passed separately.