Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday vetoed some provisions tucked into the transportation budget bill that critics had predicted would deter out-of-state college students from voting in Ohio. But the governor let stand a 30-day time limit by which anyone who declares Ohio residency must re-register their cars and get a new driver’s license. A provision that listed registering to vote among several acts of declaring residency in the state had triggered criticism. Under the vetoed language, failure to re-register an out-of-state car and get a new driver’s license would have resulted in loss of all driving privileges in Ohio and open the driver to a minor misdemeanor charge and a fine.
Democratic Rep. Kathleen Clyde of Kent led the criticism, saying the fees associated with changing auto registration and obtaining a driver’s license and the potential penalties would deter college students from out-of-state from registering to vote from their college address.
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that college students have a right to register as voters from their college addresses.
Clyde said Wednesday that Kasich did the right thing. “This is a victory for voting rights in Ohio and for Ohio’s college students and new Ohioans who we want to welcome to our state,” Clyde said.
Full Article: Gov. John Kasich vetoes transportation budget language that critics said would deter voting | cleveland.com.