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State continues to dodge longstanding Ohio Election Day law

Lawmaker asks state officials to take lead in upholding legal holiday
November 5, 2018
Democratic Newsroom

State Rep. Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) last Thursday called on state leaders to follow the longstanding Ohio law that recognizes Election Day from noon to 5:30 p.m. as a legal state holiday in the Buckeye State. The legal holiday designation for Election Day was reaffirmed in 1953, but has been state law for 128 years, dating back to Gov. James Edwin Campbell’s signature of Senate Bill 174 in the 69th Ohio General Assembly.

“The fact is that part of Election Day has been a legal holiday in Ohio for 128 years.  We simply have not been following the law,” wrote Ramos in a letter to Gov. John Kasich and Republican legislative leaders.* “I am requesting that you use the power of your office to follow Chapter 5.20 of the General Provisions of the Ohio Revised Code to close state offices not related to elections on Election Day at noon.”

The Lorain lawmaker indicated he may introduce legislation to make all of Election Day a state holiday in Ohio, but said he is first more concerned about following current state law.

“As Constitutional Officers, it is imperative upon all of us to promote the very democratic processes which allow us to serve our state,” Ramos continued in the letter. “I believe allowing more time off for state employees would do so, while simultaneously encouraging Ohio’s business community to follow suit. It is also imperative that we do all that we can to make certain that the laws of our state are being followed.  In this case, they simply are not.”