COLUMBUS – Ohio’s top elections official is reaching out to younger voters – with a beer in his hand, figuratively speaking.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Wednesday announced a new statewide voter registration campaign called Raise a Glass to Democracy, involving more than 30 craft breweries, including a dozen in central Ohio, who have agreed to create a beer with a universal label designed to boost voter registration.
LaRose cited research from the Harris Poll and the Nielsen Co. which stated that more than half of 21- to 44-year-olds have said they drink craft beer. That age group is also less likely to turn out on Election Day than older voters, LaRose said.
“Ohio is stronger when all of our voices are heard from every generation. To help bridge this gap, we have asked businesses that have a unique capability to reach younger Ohioans to partner with the Secretary of State’s office to increase the number of registered Ohio voters,” he said.
Most of the breweries are expected to have their beers ready for sale by early September, well ahead of the Oct. 5 registration deadline.
Ohio residents can register to vote online by providing their Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number, name, date of birth, address, and the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Democrats in the Statehouse, meanwhile, are taking LaRose to task for requiring voters to pay for the postage to return mail-in ballots and applications for absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 election.
“The federal CARES Act gave the states money to run elections under extreme pandemic conditions, including for paying return postage for ballots and applications. The Ohio Controlling Board broadly authorized LaRose to spend that federal money. There is no obstacle here,” said Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo).
Democrats say LaRose should not wait for the General Assembly to weigh in on whether his office can provide return postage because he already has the authority to make the decision.