More early voting, online registration and broader counting of provisional ballots are among the changes legislative Democrats say should be made before the November election. Democrats put together a list of issues, including several they have been raising over the past few years. “Ohio just is not doing a good enough job of clearing the path to the ballot and counting these ballots once they cast them,” said House Minority Leader Tracy Maxwell Heard, D-Columbus. Secretary of State Jon Husted has argued that with early voting, mail voting and Election Day, there is plenty of opportunity to cast a ballot in Ohio. Democrats want Husted to rescind his directive setting days and hours for early voting this year. Based on a bipartisan recommendation from county election officials, it includes the two Saturdays before Election Day. Democrats say it also should include evening hours and the Sunday and Monday before the election.
“The secretary can take action right now to restore early voting and save the voters a lot of heartache and confusion,” said Sen. Nina Turner, D-Cleveland, who is challenging Husted in the November election.
Turner also said Husted can implement online voter registration without legislative action. He already allows for online registration changes.
“Because Ohio law makes no distinction between updating and registering for the first time, the secretary currently has the power to do that,” Turner said.
Full Article: Democrats push for Ohio election changes before November vote | The Columbus Dispatch.