COLUMBUS, Ohio – Democrats at the Statehouse continue to criticize Republicans for moves the Democrats say makes it more difficult for their supporters to vote.
Lawmakers Wednesday approved a bill setting forth when provisional ballots are counted in the political swing state and what it takes to cast one. Provisional ballots include those cast when voters don’t bring proper ID to the polls or cast them in the wrong precinct.
Representative Kevin Boyce (D-Columbus) says the bill, coming the day after the state’s top elections official set new days and hours for early voting, advances the GOP’s political agenda to “disenfranchise” and “confuse” voters.
“This bill goes against the very principle of what the Voter Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 intended to do, which was to eliminate forms of discrimination at the voting polls,” he said
The bill passed by the House and Senate would put into law a recent federal court ruling that requires provisional ballots cast in the wrong precinct, but right polling location, to be counted.
The measure would also require voters to provide their date of birth and current address on the provisional ballot affirmation in order for the ballot to be eligible to be counted. Voter advocates continue to assert that this will cause even more provisional ballots to be tossed out.
Secretary of State John Husted issued a directive Tuesday eliminating early voting in the evening, on most Saturdays, Sundays and the Monday before the primary and general election.