With Ohio facing a rare general election these days without major litigation hanging over the ballot process, voting rights groups on Wednesday staked out their hopes for future changes to make voting easier. The Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, consisting of groups like the League of Women Voters of Ohio and the new All Voting is Local, called for automatic voter registration for those eligible to vote, expanded early voting hours and days, and improvements in online voter registration. “When a quarter of those who are eligible are not registered and we have even worse turnout rates, we understand that the system is clearly not working,” League Executive Director Jen Miller said. While none of these proposed changes could happen in time to affect the Nov. 6 election, these discussions have been incorporated into the debate over who will succeed Secretary of State Jon Husted. The next secretary of state will be either state Sen. Frank LaRose (R., Hudson) or state Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D., Kent).
The current schedule of early voting hours is part of a settlement with Mr. Husted’s office, but it will not survive his tenure.
“This is so important,” said Camille Wimbish, election administration director for Ohio Voice. “About one out of every three is voting early in Ohio, and we have to make sure that people have the ability to go in the evening and be able to use those weekend hours…
“It would be wonderful if they didn’t have to travel 15, 20, maybe 30 minutes to get to those early voting centers,” she said. “We should be thinking outside the box.”
Full Article: Groups seek expanded voting opportunities – The Blade.