The controversial opinion comes soon after Acton ruffled Democrats’ feathers by opposing transgender athletes playing in girls sports.
Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, recently surprised and angered members of her own party by voicing her support for Issue 3 ahead of November’s elections.
The proposed constitutional amendment would add the existing voter ID to the state constitution in Ohio.
“This amendment has overwhelming support from Ohioans across the state. As this doesn’t change what is already law, as governor, I will support it,” Acton said in a recent statement.
“At the same time, as both a candidate and governor, I will fight to ensure that all eligible Ohio voters, regardless of party, can access the required identification easily and at no cost, so they can exercise their fundamental right and have their voices heard.”
Democrats have criticized the amendment.
“Voter ID laws already exist, Ohio elections are safe and secure, and there is no widespread fraud. Gov. DeWine said it, local elections officials have said it – and every GOP candidate should say it too instead of trumpeting misinformation and election conspiracies,” wrote Ohio Democratic Party chair Kathleen Clyde on social media.
Candidates in other statewide races have voiced differing opinions on the issue. For Secretary of State, Democratic candidate Rep. Allison Russo opposes Issue 3. Republican candidate Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague has voiced his support of it and predicted that it will pass “overwhelmingly.”
Sprague’s campaign issued a statement criticizing both Acton and Russo.
“Amy Acton is in favor of Issue 3 only because she’s seen the polling and knows Ohioans overwhelmingly back photo ID as the most effective way to secure our elections. In doing so, she has left Allison Russo, who spent her career voting against photo ID, stranded on an island and having to explain why she’s against secure elections,” said Dalton Throckmorton, campaign manager for Sprague.
Russo issued a statement on Issue 3, which she voted against in the General Assembly.
“My position is clear and unchanged. I oppose the constitutional amendment because it is unnecessary, and I believe locking it into the Ohio Constitution is overkill, plain and simple,” Russo said in a statement.
The issue has Democrats in disarray and on opposing sides.
Acton recently faced heavy criticism from Democrats for her stance that women’s sports should be protected from transgender athletes.
