House Democrats: Refusal of Republicans to pass constitutional maps jeopardizing safe and accessible voting for our military

COLUMBUS— Today, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) issued statements today after the federal Department of Defense denied Ohio’s request to shorten the time for delivering absentee ballots to military and overseas voters. The extension was requested by the Secretary of State after Republicans refused to adopt constitutional state legislative and congressional maps and also refused to move the primary election. The Under Secretary of Defense said LaRose’s waiver request failed to provide adequate time for military and overseas voters to receive their ballots or to return them.

“By failing to adopt constitutional maps and refusing to move the primary, Republicans are jeopardizing the ability of our overseas military members to vote in the upcoming election,” said Leader Russo. “Our service men and women protect our freedom to vote every single day, but now, Republicans are playing politics with the votes of these service members. We can still easily move the primary to ensure all Ohioans have the opportunity to cast their ballots. The majority just needs to stop blocking access to our vote.”

“We need a dose of reality at the statehouse. Voting in safe and accessible elections is our American right and our service members— key protectors of the freedom to vote— need time to receive their ballots and return them. Instead, they are being shortchanged by a handful of seemingly unmovable, unreasonable Republicans in Columbus. My colleagues and I stand ready to move the primary to a date that will allow access for all Ohioans to vote and have their vote counted,” said Rep. Sobecki, a veteran of the U.S. Navy.