Elon Musk's America PAC is sending pro-Issue 3 mailers across Ohio as the proposed constitutional voter-ID amendment heads to Mason-area ballots.
Signal Ohio politics reporter Andrew Tobias reported on X that the mailers arrived in Ohio mailboxes during the week of Sept. 30 with disclaimers identifying America PAC as the funder. The push marks a shift in what had been a quiet campaign season around Issue 3.
@AndrewJTobias: "Pro-Issue 3 Mailers are hitting Ohio mailboxes this week. The disclaimer says they are funded by America PAC. Elon Musk founded America PAC in 2024 to support Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and it's spending in competitive U.S. Senate races this year, including Ohio."
Signal Cincinnati reported Sept. 30 that the campaign for or against the measure had been largely silent before the PAC mailers arrived.
What Issue 3 would do
The short answer: nothing changes right now.
Ohio has required government-issued photo ID for in-person voting since 2023. Issue 3 would move that requirement from state law into the constitution, making it harder for future lawmakers to change or repeal. Any future change would require another statewide vote.
Accepted photo IDs under the current law and the proposed amendment include an unexpired Ohio driver's license, a U.S. passport or passport card, or a military ID. Mail-in voters would still provide an alternative form of identification, such as the last four digits of a Social Security number, according to Signal Ohio.
The Ohio Ballot Board approved the official language for Issue 3 on Aug. 4 by a 4-1 vote. The measure passed the Ohio Statehouse in June 2026 as a Republican-sponsored resolution.
Support and opposition
Both candidates for Ohio governor, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, said they support Issue 3, NBC4 reported.
Sen. Jane Timken, a Jackson Township Republican who sponsored the resolution, argued in a June 2026 news release that the measure is needed because artificial intelligence can now generate fake documents. "With AI being easily able to generate items like utility bills and bank statements, it is essential to constitutionally protect voter photo-ID requirements," Timken said.
Democrats have called the amendment unnecessary. Rep. Juanita Brent, a Cleveland Democrat, argued at a June 2026 Statehouse hearing that the amendment protects photo ID without safeguarding drop boxes, early voting, mail-in ballots or free state IDs.
Musk's PAC spending in Ohio
America PAC has spent $3.7 million on the Ohio U.S. Senate race between Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Jon Husted, the Detroit News reported Sept. 25, citing Federal Election Commission filings. The PAC has spent $16.6 million total on Senate races nationwide. Much of that spending has gone toward phone calls, text messages and printed materials like the mailers now arriving in Ohio.
Musk founded America PAC in 2024 to support Donald Trump's presidential campaign. He has given roughly $50 million to the group since then and also donated $5 million to a super PAC supporting Ramaswamy's gubernatorial campaign, according to the Detroit News.
America PAC spokesman Andrew Romeo told the Detroit News the PAC coordinates with the Republican Party and that its priority is keeping Republicans in control of Washington.
Key dates for Mason-area voters
The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 general election is Monday, Oct. 5. Early in-person voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 6. Polls on Election Day are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
