The Republican-controlled Ohio Senate has approved a plan to repeal a contentious new election law that shrunk early voting in the presidential battleground state. The bill cleared the chamber along party lines Wednesday, over the strenuous objections of Democrats. It heads to the Ohio House. Republican Sen. Bill Coley called the bill nothing more than a repeal of the law Democrats and their allies are working to turn back in November. “If there were provisions of the bill that were deemed so terrible as to trigger a referendum, then lets revisit the topic,” Coley said. “Let’s hit the reset button in an effort to find common ground.”
More than 300 thousand people signed referendum petitions to put the election reform bill on the ballot in November. The law would cut back on the number of days available for early voting and eliminate the so-called “golden week” prior to an election during which someone can register and vote on the same day. Democrats say the provisions would suppress voter turnout.
Republican Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnatisaid the GOP was taking action Democrats had requested in earlier statements and he urged them to cooperate in drafting a replacement bill. “If we’re going to get something done we’ve got to get it done by the end of May,” Seitz said. “If you all don’t want to do it, then we’re back to the drawing board.”
Full Article: Ohio Senate Votes To Repeal Election Overhaul Bill | NBC 4i.