Rep. Sweeney testifies on Election Engagement Restoration Act to repeal Ohio's ban on election official collaboration, donations

COLUMBUS — State Representative Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) today testified on House Bill (HB) 380 the Election Engagement Restoration Act. The legislation would repeal two new sections of the Revised Code that 1) prevent a nongovernmental entity from contributing money or collaborating on the operations of a Board of Elections – even at nonpartisan events; 2) ban legal settlements between public officials and third parties, instead forcing endless and costly litigation. These bans were tacked onto the most recent operating budget at the last minute and became law without any committee process or public vetting.

“The Ohio collaboration ban must be repealed. We have already seen it prohibit normal election-related activities like training poll workers in a church basement,” said Rep. Sweeney. “There’s no reason to leave a law on the books that makes it harder to run elections by stifling election workers. They should not have to fear being criminalized just for doing their jobs.”

The Election Engagement Restoration Act simply repeals two new sections of the Revised Code. The first provision bans any public official from working with or accepting donations from any “nongovernmental person or entity for any costs or activities related to voter registration, voter education, voter identification, get-out-the-vote, absent voting, election official recruitment or training, or any other election-related purpose” (Ohio Revised Code § 3501.054). 

The second provision to be repealed is a ban on legal settlements between public officials and third parties, instead forcing endless and costly litigation (Ohio Revised Code § 9.58). In recent years, good government groups have secured important agreements to protect homeless voters, preserve voter access to the last three days of early voting, and prevent voters from being purged and having their votes rejected. This prohibition takes away a basic tool for resolving conflict and clearing obstacles to voting. 

Rep. Sweeney has opposed these blanket bans since July 2021 when they were first enacted. The Election Engagement Restoration Act now awaits further action by the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee.