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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > November > 05 > Entry
Committee unveils new version of elections overhaul bill
Ohioans would have 28 days before an election to vote absentee either in person or by mail under a new version of comprehensive voting legislation unveiled on Thursday, Nov. 5, by the House Elections and Ethics Committee
Also, absentee voting would end on the Monday before a Tuesday election, rather than on the Saturday before the election as called for in a previous version of the proposal.
The new version also creates online voter registration for Ohioans who have a current and valid ID from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
The new version of the bill also pulls back from a plan to eliminate special elections now allowed in February and August and instead create a task force to study the issue.
Elimination of the special elections was seen as a way to save money but Committee Chairman Dan Stewart, D-Columbus, said school districts often need the option of special elections for votes on levies.
Majority Democrats accepted the new version of the bill while Republicans opposed it.
He called House Bill 260 a “common sense” proposal and said he committee would vote it out on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The goal is for the full House to consider it by the end of the month, Stewart said.
The Senate also is considering a proposal to overhaul elections. Stewart said he hopes the two chambers can reach agreement on a final bill by the end of the year so changes would be in effect for the May 2010 primary.
Other provisions in House Bill 260:
*Counties could have up to four early voting locations.
*A challenge to a voter’s registration would have to be upheld by a majority of elections officials present. Now one official may make the challenge.
*To vote, Ohioans would be required to show government or school-issued photo identification or provide their birth date, signature and the last four digits of their Social Security or driver’s license number.
The previous version would have allowed the use of ID cards from nonprofits to vote.
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