Democrats push for election changes
More early voting, online registration and broader counting of provisional ballots are among the changes legislative Democrats say should be made before the November election.
Democrats put together a list of issues, including several they have been raising over the past few years.
“Ohio just is not doing a good enough job of clearing the path to the ballot and counting these ballots once they cast them,” said House Minority Leader Tracy Maxwell Heard, D-Columbus.
Secretary of State Jon Husted has argued that with early voting, mail voting and Election Day, there is plenty of opportunity to cast a ballot in Ohio.
Democrats want Husted to rescind his directive setting days and hours for early voting this year. Based on a bipartisan recommendation from county election officials, it includes the two Saturdays before Election Day. Democrats say it also should include evening hours and the Sunday and Monday before the election.
“The secretary can take action right now to restore early voting and save the voters a lot of heartache and confusion,” said Sen. Nina Turner, D-Cleveland, who is challenging Husted in the November election.
Turner also said Husted can implement online voter registration without legislative action. He already allows for online registration changes.
“Because Ohio law makes no distinction between updating and registering for the first time, the secretary currently has the power to do that,” Turner said.
But Husted spokeswoman Maggie Ostrowski said the secretary needs legal authority to get signatures from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to do online registration. She noted that a judge recently blocked Minnesota’s online voter-registration system because the secretary overstepped his authority without legislative approval.
However, Minnesota officials moved quickly to enact a bill to ensure the system continued. In all, 19 states allow online voter registration, and four more are putting it in place.
Despite arguments from Husted that online registration is less expensive, more secure and more convenient, Republican legislative leaders have not acted.
“Some members want to ensure that the cost of implementation is low, while others have indicated that ... it would be essential to ensure the security and integrity of registering people online,” House GOP spokesman Mike Dittoe said.
A Senate GOP spokesman did not return a message seeking comment.
Democrats also argued that Ohio ranks high in rejected provisional ballots and lags in registering voters at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
“A lot has to do with training and making it a priority,” Turner said of BMV registrations.
Ostrowski said Husted has come a long way in partnering with the BMV to get information to county election boards. “You just can’t force people to register,” she said.
She added: “If (Democrats) would help us spread the word about how easy it is to vote, we’d all go a lot further.”