State Rep. Troy introduces bill to bring 'consistency' to primary election dates

State Rep. Dan Troy, D-Willowick, recently introduced legislation to move Ohio’s presidential election-year primary-election date to the same date as the non-presidential election-year primary date — the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May.

“Every fourth year, we schedule our primary election in mid-March, allegedly for the purposes of Ohio being more of a player in the presidential primary races,” Troy said. “Ohio’s influence on that process has proven to be dubious, at best, and it’s time to return to a normal and consistent election schedule.”

According to a news release, approval of the change would yield “several benefits,” among them:

• Candidates for all federal, state, and county offices would not have to be filing petitions for nomination to be on the November ballot, almost 11 months prior to that actual election in the preceding calendar year
• Voter confusion would be minimized with a consistent date every spring — “and assuredly better weather”
• Would provide more time to get “all ducks in a row” before filing deadlines, with the redistricting process looming again
• Would shorten the election season and potentially allow more time for governing and less time for partisan politics

“God forbid, two primaries again,” Troy said, noting the proposal has already received support.

“We applaud Rep. Troy for this introduction,” said Ohio Association of Election Officials President Sherry Poland. “For too many years, the presidential primary has been a moving target, creating confusion for voters, poll workers, election officials and candidates alike.”

Paul Adams, first vice president of OAEO, said consistency is a key ingredient for successful elections.

“The shifting dates for the presidential primary have long caused significant issues planning these elections,” he added. “Recently, Ohio’s presidential primary was held on St. Patrick’s Day, a move that highlighted why Ohio should stick with May for all of its primary elections.”

The measure has nine Ohio House co-sponsors representing both parties, Troy noted.

“I believe it is imperative and important that we schedule elections for the ease and the convenience of the citizens and folks that have to administer them,” he said. “We’ve just finished a most bizarre election year that not only confused voters but also discouraged participation.

“The citizens — the ‘We the People’ — should be our main concern in scheduling and conducting elections, not the national political parties and the cadre of national political nominating convention delegate wannabes,” Troy asserted.