Ohio election changes head to DeWine’s desk

By J.D. Davidson
The Center Square

With the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching, Republicans in the Ohio General Assembly pushed through a series of voting changes they say keep elections secure.

The legislation, introduced a month ago, received its first hearing in the House of Representatives on Tuesday and passed the full body Wednesday, the last day lawmakers plan to work this year.

Late Wednesday night, the Senate concurred with changes, sending it to Gov. Mike DeWine.

The bill includes an end to the state’s four-day grace period for absentee ballots, and provisions Republicans added that require the secretary of state to do monthly checks of the voter registration database.

“Our state will continue to have a robust, safe, and secure election process with the passage of Senate Bill 293,” House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said in a statement. "By enacting this piece of legislation now, the secretary of state and Board of Elections have adequate time to advertise this minor revision and allow Ohioans to plan how they will vote in their next election."

Huffman said 34 other states also require mail-in ballots to arrive on or before Election Day, and only 0.01% of mailed-in ballots cast in the 2024 General Election came in after Election Day.

Ohio has a 30-day voter registration requirement, says the website of the secretary of state, meaning 30 days before Election Day. Ballots by mail can be requested the next day.

House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, called the change unnecessary and places another burden on voters.

“Senate Bill 293 is a deliberate attempt to silence voters by rigging the system with rushed, unnecessary barriers that make it harder for everyday Ohioans to cast a ballot,” Isaacsohn said in a statement. "This isn’t about security; it’s about political control and protecting power. If Republicans truly believed their extremist agenda had public support, they wouldn’t be afraid of voter participation. Ohio deserves leaders who expand access to democracy, trust the people, and strengthen our voice – not politicians who limit it for partisan gain."

The election changes also require proof of citizenship when registering or updating voter registration, and a person must bring documents to the polls to prove citizenship if state officials can’t confirm citizenship through existing records.

The secretary of state must also send monthly reports to county boards of elections listing voters who have died, and election officials are required to challenge any voter flagged as a noncitizen on their driver’s license or state ID.

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