absentee voting
New voter ID requirements put out-of-state college students “between a rock and a hard place”
A new law changing voting ID requirements makes it more challenging for out-of-state college students to vote. House Bill 458 requires a photo ID to vote — meaning an unexpired Ohio driver’s license, a state ID card, U.S. passport or military card — so out-of-state college students must get an Ohio issued ID card if […]
A closer look at Ohio voting restrictions now at desk of Gov. Mike DeWine
The following article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. Ohio Republican lawmakers passed a major elections reform bill after midnight, on Thursday morning, […]
One week out, early in-person voting keeps growing while mail voting lags
With just one week until Election Day, early vote figures show a modest increase overall compared to the last midterm cycle. Continuing a trend, big jumps in early in-person voting are compensating for declining absentee ballot requests. At most recent count, 1.24 million voters have requested their ballots early either absentee or through early in-person […]
More than 9 million voters already have cast their ballots in November elections
WASHINGTON — Roughly 9.4 million Americans have already voted in the midterm elections, casting a combination of in-person early votes and mail-in ballots, according to data compiled by the United States Elections Project. Florida as well as Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania are among the top states in terms of early voting so far. The initiative, headed […]
States target ballot drop boxes in fight over voting rights
Ballot drop boxes are so secure they’ve survived getting hit by an SUV and rolled by a school bus — yet much of the battle over voting rights has centered on the big metal boxes. In the November 2020 general election, nearly 40 states had ballot drop boxes available and more voters used drop boxes than in any […]
What changes Ohio elections officials do — and don’t — want to see
The organization representing elections officials throughout Ohio sees a bill proposing numerous elections changes as a mixed bag. There are some provisions in House Bill 294 the Ohio Association of Elections Officials would like to see adjusted, executive director Aaron Ockerman said Monday, while there are others it supports. One item in particular, to eliminate […]
Election reform battle comes to Ohio with new Republican proposals
The 2020 election in Ohio, Republicans will tell you, was perhaps the most successful in state history. Ohio recorded its highest turnout ever, despite a pandemic that saw COVID-19 cases rising in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Secretary of State Frank LaRose led a major poll worker recruitment drive and coordinated safety protocols […]
Ohio House GOP’s proposed voting law changes, explained
Two Republican lawmakers recently unveiled their election reform bill to colleagues, proposing changes to how Ohioans can register to vote and cast absentee ballots in future elections. The bill has not yet been introduced, but Reps. Bill Seitz of Green Twp. and Sharon Ray of Wadsworth outlined their proposals in a cosponsor request to fellow […]
Early voting underway in Ohio for May 2021 primary election
It is election season once again in Ohio, though you may or may not have something to vote for this spring. Early voting has begun for the May 2021 primary election, which features tax levies and other local government races throughout the state. The easiest way to check if you have a local issue to […]
Ohio bill would require hundreds of ballot drop boxes be installed across state
Democratic lawmakers want to increase voter drop box access throughout the state of Ohio, proposing to install hundreds of boxes for future elections. State Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Cleveland, and Michele Lepore-Hagan, D-Youngstown, believe the additional drop boxes will make voting more convenient for Ohioans seeking to cast absentee ballots. Secretary of State Frank LaRose, […]
Mailbag: How can someone with COVID-19 vote this year?
The election season is wrapping up, but the Ohio Capital Journal Mailbag carries on. Let’s get to it: Got a question about Ohio politics? Send them to [email protected] or tweet them to @tylerjoelb. Who makes the “call” in Ohio that a candidate has enough votes tallied to declare the winners of the election? Is this […]
Want to still request an absentee ballot in Ohio? Do it ASAP
Time is quickly running out. Ohioans looking to vote by mail or drop box, but who haven’t yet requested their ballot, should put in their requests as soon as possible. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is technically Saturday, Oct. 31 at noon, but Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is warning that date […]