COLUMBUS – Ohio has become the latest state where Republicans are proposing a significant rewrite of state election laws.
Legislation introduced Thursday calls for prohibiting ballot drop boxes, other than at Board of Elections offices, eliminating a day of early voting and tightening voter ID requirements, all restrictions criticized by Democrats.
“When it comes to anti-voter legislation, Ohio Republicans have set a new standard…This bill has nothing to do with modernization, it only serves to take Ohio further back in the fight for voting rights in our state,” Ohio Democratic Party chair Liz Walters said in a statement.
The bill also would add some conveniences to elections, including an online absentee ballot request system and automated voter registration.
“We are encouraged to see that this proposed legislation contains potential improvements…Nevertheless, that does not offset our concerns about provisions that would unfairly and unnecessarily create new barriers for Ohioans to exercise their freedom to vote,” the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition said in a statement.
The coalition consists of organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the League of Women Voters and the NAACP.
The measure’s sponsor, Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) says the sweeping overhaul isn’t suppressive but incorporates changes advocated by both parties, as well as election officials and voting rights advocates. It comes despite a smooth 2020 election.
The bill eliminates a day of early voting on the Monday before Election Day, requires two forms of ID for online absentee ballot requests, and limits counties to one drop box location.