bill demora
Ohio senators consider election law changes to close primaries, prohibit ranked choice voting
This week an Ohio Senate committee took up a handful of election administration bills. Those proposals would close primaries, tweak Ohio’s “Sore Loser” law, and prohibit ranked choice voting. In Ohio, party affiliation is loose. You don’t select one when you register to vote. When primary elections come around, you can select whichever party’s ballot […]
Ohio Ballot Board approves language for 60% amendment proposal along party lines, again
One day after an Ohio Supreme Court ruling, the Ohio Ballot Board revised the language for State Issue 1, the Aug. 8 proposal asking voters to require future constitutional amendments clear a 60% supermajority for passage. The court ordered board members to fix inaccuracies in the ballot language they adopted about a month ago. And […]
Ohio Ballot Board approves language for August amendment proposal despite objections
The Ohio Ballot Board has approved language for an August ballot measure from Ohio Republican lawmakers. The proposal asks voters whether to make it harder to pass future constitutional amendments by requiring 60% of the vote. The board’s two Democrats and an outside organization currently suing to block the August election criticized the ballot language […]
Ohio Senate approves DATA Act standardizing elections information statewide
The Ohio Senate has approved a bill overhauling how county boards collect and maintain voter data. The vote comes one day after the proposal passed committee, and without any of a handful of changes proposed by interested parties. The proposal, known as the DATA Act, grew out of a report commissioned by the Trump-aligned America […]
Ohio Senate begins hearings for supermajority amendment, August elections
Ohio state senators began hearings Tuesday for their measure to impose a 60% supermajority to pass constitutional amendments. If the proposal passes both chambers with the support three-fifths of members, it goes to the ballot. The sponsors of the resolution are also backing a bill to revive August elections — just in time for their […]
‘DATA Act’ would create consistency in Ohio voting records, supporters say
Officials from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office put their weight behind Senate Bill 71 this week. The DATA Act would create uniform definitions for various voter data and codify specific record-keeping standards. Democrats worry about the influence of a Donald Trump-aligned think tank. Mandi Grandjean spoke on behalf of Secretary Frank LaRose; she serves […]
Ohio state Senate Democrats lay out priorities for the coming term
Ohio’s Senate Democrats gathered in a Statehouse conference room Tuesday to discuss their priorities for the coming term. The gathering itself offered a stark visual reminder of the challenges the minority faces. The seven Democratic senators weren’t even enough to fill the small conference table where they met. Minority Leader Nickie Antonio acknowledged they face […]