Ohio lawmakers rejected a request from Secretary of State Jon Husted to include $1.25 million in the budget to fund the mailing of absentee ballot applications statewide in 2016. “It’s not in there yet,” said Husted’s press secretary Joshua Eck, who added they’ve been given no indication that lawmakers against it. “In the grand scheme of things, $1.25 million is a small price to pay to ensure that when all eyes are on Ohio, we deliver another smooth presidential election,” Assistant Secretary of State Matt Damschroder said in prepared testimony before the House Finance Committee last month. Eck said they will continue to meet with lawmakers so they know this is a priority and valued by Husted.
Pressed repeatedly about why the money was not included among the hundreds of changes the House made to the budget this week, Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, stressed the budget process still has a long way to go.
“I don’t think there’s a concern, but we’re going through the process of making sure we’re looking at it, vetting it, making sure it’s the right direction we want to continue on, and making sure we’re making a sound judgment.”
Full Article: $1.25 million to send out absentee ballot applications not in budget | The Columbus Dispatch.