Voting for the May primary begins next Tuesday, which is a little too early for Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted. Rather than starting early voting 35 days before an election, it should be less than 30 days, Husted said Monday during a 70-minute meeting with The Vindicator’s editorial board. But Husted, a Republican elected in 2010 to secretary of state, said he doesn’t have a specific plan. Husted wants in-person at county boards of elections early voting to be less than 30 days before an election with some weekend access, extended hours during the final week before an election and no in-person voting on Mondays before Tuesday elections.
Waiting in long lines to vote is a “choice” because registered voters in Ohio can cast a ballot by mail without leaving their homes, he said.
During the November 2012 presidential election, 1.8 million of the 5.6 million voters in the state cast ballots early, a record for Ohio.
Husted said he will continue to support efforts for online voter registration and absentee ballot requests.
“We probably faced the most pre-election scrutiny in the country,” Husted said.
Full Article: Youngstown News, The state’s early-voting laws need changes, secretary of state says – Newswatch.