Rep. Dovilla Announces Passage of Legislation Ensuring Integrity of Voter Rolls

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) today announced the Ohio House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 238, legislation that revises the number of days for absentee voting, helping local boards of elections meet the challenges of preparing for Election Day.

“I am disheartened that this bipartisan legislative recommendation, supported by Democratic and Republican Secretaries of State, introduced previously by Minority Leader Heard, and passed with unanimous House Democrat support in 2008 was turned into a political issue,” said Rep. Dovilla. “Ohioans deserve elected officials who are able to put sound policy over soundbyte politics.”

The Ohio Constitution requires that voters register thirty days before an election, which is currently overlapped by the 35 day period when voters are permitted to vote early. This leaves a weeklong timeframe during which voters are both registering to vote and voting, placing additional strain on local boards of election as they enter the most demanding time of the election cycle.

Under Senate Bill 238, absentee voting will begin the day after voter registration closes, thus eliminating the overlap and giving local officials the time they need to adequately prepare the voting rolls for the pending election. Eliminating this overlap provides Ohioans with 29 days of early, no-fault absentee voting.

According to a study by the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures, Ohio will remain one of the top ten states in the nation, and first in the region, for the number of days for early voting under Senate Bill 238.

SB 238 will now be sent to Governor Kasich for his signature.