Election bill to require photo ID, tighten absentee ballot deadlines heads to Gov. DeWine
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Ohio Republicans passed legislation this week that would make sweeping changes to state election laws, including tightening timelines for absentee voting and requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls.
The legislation is the culmination of efforts by GOP lawmakers to revamp voting procedures, which proponents say would curb distrust in the election process. The Ohio Senate approved the bill on Tuesday, and it cleared the House early Thursday morning.
Our view: 'Hastily prepared,' undemocratic constitution change would erode your vote
Democrats and voting rights advocates say the bill would make it harder for Ohioans to vote. They also contend it's a red herring to appease election skeptics, as voter fraud in Ohio is extremely rare.
"I believe our founding fathers would not be proud of a bill like this," Rep. Latyna Humphrey, D-Columbus, said. "Restricting voter access is the complete opposite of what our constituents have elected us to do."
The bill now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine's desk.
What does the election bill do?
The bill would require voters to present a state-issued photo ID, U.S. passport, passport card or military ID to cast their ballot in person, although the ID doesn't need to to have their current address on it. As part of that, any Ohioan 17 and older would be eligible to receive a free state ID card. Ohio licenses and ID cards must also note if the person is not a U.S. citizen.
Right now, voters can use alternative forms of identification at the polls, such as utility bills or bank statements. That would no longer be permitted.
The bill also:
Requires completed mail-in ballots to arrive within four days of Election Day, instead of 10.
Requires voters who want to vote by mail to submit an application at least seven days before Election Day, instead of three.
Gives provisional voters until four days after the election to provide missing information to election officials, instead of seven days.
Permits only one ballot drop box per county that's installed at the county board of elections office.
Allows the secretary of state's office to mail unsolicited absentee ballot applications, as long as they document how many applications and ballots are issued. A previous version of the bill prohibited the secretary of state from doing that.
Eliminates in-person voting the Monday before Election Day and reallocates those hours to another time.
Eliminates most special elections in August unless the county, municipality or school district is under a fiscal emergency.
Prohibits curbside voting, unless the voter has a disability and is unable to enter their polling place.
Allows all 17-year-olds to serve as election officials, not just high school seniors.
House, Senate Republicans clash over changes
The bill, unveiled last week by Senate Republicans, incorporates elements of separate legislation introduced last year by House Majority Floor Leader state Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati. But House Republicans threatened to hold up the measure Wednesday over provisions related to drop boxes and provisional ballots.
As a result, the House and Senate agreed to changes that would:
Allow ballot drop boxes to be open at any time, instead of only when the board of elections office is open.
Give boards of elections until eight days after the election to determine whether provisional ballots can be counted. The original Senate proposal gave the boards four days, a provision that Seitz called "hella stupid."
Seitz pushed back against criticism from his Democratic colleagues.
"This is all nonsense coming from the organized left that, rightly or wrongly, wants everybody to be able to vote, and we'll serve you an Egg McMuffin, breakfast in bed and bring your ballot to your house," Seitz said. "Well folks, it doesn't work that way."
Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio election bill: Republicans send photo ID bill to Gov. Mike DeWine
