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Richardson Backs Public Safety, Election Integrity Proposals

May 27, 2022
Tracy M. Richardson News

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COLUMBUS – State Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) is backing proposed constitutional amendments that will support public safety and protect the integrity of Ohio elections.

The Ohio House of Representatives approved two resolutions on Wednesday that recommend two important issues be placed before voters in the November election. Representative Richardson voted in favor of both resolutions which she hopes will allow voters to make important choices in the fall and would amend the Ohio Constitution. The Ohio Senate is advancing similar legislation. 

The first resolution, House Joint Resolution 2, addresses an Ohio Supreme Court decision announced earlier this year where the court ruled public safety is not a consideration with respect to determining the financial conditions of bail. The other resolution, House Joint Resolution 4, closes a loophole to make clear non-citizens cannot vote in Ohio elections.

Richardson said House Joint Resolution 2 is important because a constitutional change will ensure that those who pose a greater safety risk to the community and to themselves will be held accountable and off the streets. House Joint Resolution 2 states that when determining the amount of bail, a court “shall consider public safety, a person’s criminal record, the likelihood a person will return to court, and the seriousness of a person’s offense.”

“I believe it’s important that we empower our judges and give them the tools they need. Sheriffs and judges within my District have expressed their emphatic support of the resolution and the constitutional change.” Richardson said.  

House Joint Resolution 4 would close a loophole that could allow non-citizens to vote on local candidates and tax issues in cities and villages, which have home rule authority under the Ohio Constitution. The concern is that this authority could be misused to open the door for non-citizens to vote.

“I think most people agree: Citizenship matters and the integrity of our elections matters,” Richardson said. 

Here in Ohio, the village of Yellow Springs in 2020 adopted an ordinance allowing non-citizens to vote. Ohio Secretary of State LaRose ruled that non-citizens in the community could neither register to vote nor vote. A future secretary of state, however, may view the issue differently, underscoring the need for the change to the Ohio Constitution. 

Constitutional amendments require voter approval to take effect.