Ron's Journal Archive
Ohio's Election Laws Under Review
1/10/2010
A variety of recent Ohio election law changes that have been controversial are up for possible changes. Two hearings are scheduled this week for SB 8, which passed the Ohio Senate on December 9, 2009. This bill has support from the boards of elections around Ohio. It is to be heard first on Tuesday at 3 PM and then again on Wednesday at 10 AM, both before the House Elections and Ethics Committee in statehouse room 122.
Here is a brief synopsis of the Senate bill:
- Require absent voter's ballot identification envelope statements to be completed for absent voter's ballots to be counted, to require boards of elections to notify absent voters that their ballots will be rejected if they do not complete the required statement,
- Generally prohibit same day voter registration and application for absent voter's ballots,
- Permit election observers to be appointed to serve at the board of elections or at another designated site during the time absent voter's ballots may be cast in person,
- Revise the time period in which voters may cast absent voter's ballots in person,
- Permit a board of elections to establish additional locations at which voters may cast absent voter's ballots in person,
- Require the Secretary of State to notify boards of elections of mismatches between voter registration information and motor vehicle records,
- Revise the process for appointing members of a board of elections.
A very different bill, HB 260, was passed by the House on November 18, 2009 over my objections. It has experienced bipartisan opposition from many county boards of elections.
Paid for by Citizens For Amstutz, Matthew Hochstetler Treasurer, 4456 Woodlake Trail, Wooster, OH 44691