A group pushing to enshrine voting provisions in the Ohio Constitution got the green light Thursday morning to collect signatures to put the amendment on the November ballot. The Ohio Ballot Board unanimously agreed Thursday the “Ohio Voters Bill of Rights” should be presented to voters as one amendment. The amendment writes into the Constitution minimum early, in-person voting hours — 12 hours during the weekend before Election Day and 10 hours each day during the preceding week — current identification standards, absentee ballot procedures and online voter registration. One of the group’s leaders, Cincinnati Democratic Rep. Alicia Reece, said the amendment protects those voting provisions from changes by lawmakers and removes the “political football” game played by both parties over voting procedures.
“The debate now moves out of just the Statehouse and those who are watching and it moves into your house,” Reece said, referring to recent election laws passed along party lines by the GOP-controlled General Assembly. “So citizens will have the chance to debate that and be able to have a voice in this debate.”
The Ballot Board is composed of Sen. Bill Coley, a Liberty Twp. Republican; Sen. Nina Turner, a Cleveland Democrat; Mark Griffin and William N. Morgan and is chaired by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted.
Full Article: Supporters of an Ohio Voters Bill of Rights can now collect signatures to put issue on November ballot | cleveland.com.