Ohio
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Republicans vote to scale back early voting in Ohio
Senate bill eliminates golden week, shortens early voting period
by WKSU's KABIR BHATIA |
Reporter
Kabir Bhatia | | |
 | | Rep. Kathleen Clyde expects minority Democrats to fight the bill in the House. |
The Ohio Senate has passed a bill that scales back early voting and eliminates the so-called “golden week,” during which people can register and vote at the same time. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Frank LaRose of Summit County, says it is a bipartisan effort to give boards of elections adequate time to verify voter registrations.
The bill now heads to the Ohio House, and state Rep. Kathleen Clyde of Kent says she can’t imagine her fellow Democrats supporting it. |
LISTEN: clyde on here the bill goes from hereOther options:  MP3 Download (0:15)
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“More and more Ohio voters are taking advantage of the ability to vote early. I don’t think we should be cutting back that opportunity. We don’t want to go back to those long lines and chaotic election we saw in 2004.”
Voter registration currently ends 30 days before an election, while early voting starts 35 days before and election. LaRose’s proposal would change that, and start early voting a day after registration closes.
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