Leader Sykes, House Dems recognize National Voter Registration Day

COLUMBUS –House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today recognized National Voter Registration Day as an opportunity to encourage participation in this November’s election despite challenges caused by the pandemic and a failure by Republican state leaders to make this unprecedented election more accessible.

“There is still time to register and to make a plan to vote in this November’s election,” said Leader Sykes. “I encourage all eligible Ohioans to register or double check their registration and make a plan to have their voice heard this fall.”

House Democrats have repeatedly advocated for and introduced pro-voter legislation that would ensure anaccessible November election. State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) announced in June the introduction of House Bill 687, a bill to improve voting and address challenges posed by the global pandemic. The bill is a strong contrast with the GOP’s HB 680, which would shorten the time for absentee votingand prevents the Secretary of State from providing return postage for absentee ballots.

Measures that are supported by House Democrats and included in HB 687 include:

• Counting ballots postmarked by Election Day;

• Protecting accessible in-person voting opportunities;

• Greater access to voter registration.

Eligible Ohioans are encouraged to visit voteohio.gov to register or confirm their voter registration, find information on their polling location, sign up to be a poll worker, or to learn how to request and cast an absentee ballot.

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