Abrams Introduces Elections Legislation

COLUMBUS – State Representative Cindy Abrams today introduced legislation to create a clear, transparent and unambiguous backup plan for conducting elections during a public health emergency.

Abrams (R-Harrison) said how Ohio conducts its elections is a critical part of giving voters confidence that the system works and their vote counts.

“It is vital that decisions about how Ohio conducts elections be made thoughtfully and deliberately, not in the heat of the moment in the midst of a crisis,” said Abrams.

Under House Bill 680, the governor and the director of the Ohio Department of Health may, in the case of a public health emergency and not later than 60 days before an election, jointly recommend to the Ohio General Assembly that the failsafe plan be implemented for the upcoming election.

The legislature would then have three days to adopt, with a simple majority, a joint resolution approving the recommendation. If it does, the failsafe plan goes into effect. If it does not, the election is conducted under existing law, with both in-person and absentee voting.

Under the failsafe plan, the election would be conducted by mail, with all polling places closed. The Ohio Secretary of State would mail a postcard to each registered voter notifying them of the procedures to apply for and return absentee ballots, as well as the applicable deadlines.

Additionally, the deadline for absentee ballot applications to be received by the county elections board would be 10 days before the election, to help ensure requests are processed and ballots mailed in a timely manner.

The bill also prohibits state and local health departments from issuing any order, making any rule or taking any action affecting the conduct of an election.

Finally, the bill outlines the Ohio Secretary of State’s use of federal CARES Act funds. Specifically, under House Bill 680, the CARES Act funding would be used:

- To pay for all costs associated with the completion of the March 17 primary;
- To provide a one-time incentive bonus payment to precinct election officials and temporary employees of the boards of elections for the November 3 general election;
- To provide personal protective equipment for election officials and to pay for cleaning and modifying the layout of polling places and the offices of the boards of elections to provide for adequate social distancing;
- To provide equipment to handle increased volumes of mail for the November 3 general election;
- To pay any costs associated with implementing the failsafe voting procedures. The funding may not be used to mail absentee ballot request forms.

“We do not know what future crises we may face as a state, but we do know this: we have the opportunity – and I would say, obligation – to ensure the rules governing our system of free and fair elections are clear, transparent and unambiguous,” Abrams said.