Supreme Court's Ruling Cruelly Upholds LaRose's Drop Box Restrictions for Voters with Disabilities

COLUMBUS — House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) today made the following statements concerning the Ohio Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling that makes it harder for voters with disabilities to cast in-person absentee ballots in Ohio:

“The Ohio Supreme Court turned their back on disabled and older citizens with this ruling, while at the same time telling Frank LaRose that constitutional laws don’t apply to him. We should be doing whatever we can to ensure all citizens, especially the most vulnerable and in need of help, have easy access to vote. Instead, politically motivated Supreme Court justices have erected unnecessary barriers to silence voters,” said Leader Russo. “This ruling once again demonstrates why we need to return objectivity to the Supreme Court and elect justices who will honor the rule of law.” 

“During this election thousands across Ohio will use government-issued containers to return ballots for elderly voters, voters with disabilities, and countless other voters who need assistance getting their vote counted. They’re called mailboxes and they come with zero restrictions and little to no surveillance. But for some reason, we’re going to add needless barriers for the family members or caregivers of some of Ohio’s most vulnerable voters who find it necessary to drop off their voted ballots in person at their local board of election’s drop boxes. This is why so many voters have lost faith in elected leaders. The ruling defies common sense, reeks of political gamesmanship, and leaves some of Ohio’s most vulnerable with devastating consequences just weeks before Election Day,” said Rep. Sweeney.