An Ohio Senate bill giving the secretary of state the authority to request up to $114.5 million in state funds for the individual counties to upgrade to the next generation of voting equipment only waits on Governor John Kasich’s signature to become law. The timing of the funds is advanced enough to allow counties the chance to have personnel trained and the bugs worked before the 2020 presidential election. Senate Bill 135, sponsored by Senator Frank LaRose (R-Hudson), received concurrence Wednesday from the Senate after passing the House Thursday, June 7 with a vote of 87-0. The bill was co-sponsored by both Delaware County representatives Rick Carfagna, R-Genoa Township (68th District) and Andrew Brenner, R-Powell (67th District).
The bill, introduced in the Senate, was passed by Senators 32-1 on April 11. The single vote against the bill was cast by Sen. Kris Jordan, R-Ostrander.
“With today’s concurrence vote in the Ohio Senate, Senate Bill 135 has cleared its final legislative checkpoint and is now headed for the Governor’s desk. I commend Senate President Obhof, Speaker Smith, and Senator LaRose for their leadership on this matter and for working to ensure that Ohio’s 88 counties have new election technology in place well ahead of the 2020 Presidential Election,” said Secretary of State Jon Husted Wednesday after the concurrence was granted by the Senate.
“I look forward to working with the county boards to purchase and implement new voting machines once the Governor signs this legislation,” Husted added.
Full Article: Voting machine bill goes to Kasich – Delaware Gazette.