The Ohio House Voted 61-34, along Party Lines Thursday, in favor of an Elections Bill that Voting Rights Groups say will make Casting Ballots during a Pandemic more Difficult.
House Bill 680 would:
- Block the Ohio Secretary of State from Prepaying Return Postage on Applications for Absentee Ballots or Retuned Ballots.
- Shortening the Time allowed for Requesting an Absentee Ballot to seven days before Election Day.
- Block Public Officials from Canceling or Delaying an Election. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) and Ohio Department of Health Director, Amy Acton, used a Public Health Order to Close Polling Places for the March 17th Presidential Primary to Prevent the Spread of the Coronavirus.
The Fast-Tracked Legislation, first introduced May 27th, encountered Opposition from Groups such as: the NAACP, League of Women Voters of Ohio, Common Cause Ohio, AARP Ohio, ACLU of Ohio, Ohio Council of Churches, and others.
AARP Ohio asked Lawmakers to Change the Bill to Allow for:
- Online Absentee Ballot Requests.
- Prepaid Return Postage-Paid Envelopes for Applications and Ballots.
- Expanding the Number of Places Voters may Drop-Off Absentee Ballots.
- Extending the Number of days Ohioans may Vote Early.
- Mailing Absentee Ballots to All Registered Voters. This one I have trouble with. I would Mail Ballot Applications to All voters and use Undelivered Application as part or my Voter Roll Maintenance process.
The Bill now moves to the Senate.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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