With early voting underway in Ohio, new restrictions are impacting how people, including those with disabilities, can cast absentee ballots. A directive issued by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office in August, which recently survived legal challenges, has introduced changes to the process. The directive requires anyone delivering an absentee ballot for another individual to sign a legal attestation. This form certifies that the person delivering the ballot is complying with state law and must be signed in person at the Board of Elections.
These restrictions, which affect all Ohio voters, have sparked debate across the state. Secretary of State Frank LaRose defended the new rules, stating that the restrictions serve as “safeguards … against ballot harvesting.” He emphasized that this policy mirrors what has been successfully implemented in other states, adding that it is intended to protect voters and election officials from any accusations of illegal activity. “This is the same policy that’s been used successfully in other states, and it’s designed to protect both individuals and election officials from accusations of illegal voting,” he said in a recent statement.
However, not everyone agrees with this position. Gwen McFarlin, chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, criticized the directive, calling it “another form of voter suppression.” According to McFarlin, “Ballot harvesting is a term that is not really applicable. It’s very rare in the state of Ohio … bringing that terminology out for something that’s not occurring is sad.” McFarlin, along with other critics, believe that these new restrictions place unnecessary hurdles on voters, particularly those who rely on others to deliver their ballots, such as people with disabilities.
The directive outlines strict rules about who can deliver someone else’s absentee ballot. Only certain family members are permitted to do so, including a spouse, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, sibling, child, adopted parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew. This list does not cover other close relations like grandchildren, cousins, step-siblings, or siblings-in-law.
For voters with disabilities, these restrictions are especially concerning. While the directive does allow disabled voters to have their ballots delivered by anyone they choose, the general limitations on who can deliver ballots for other individuals remain restrictive. “It potentially impacts (voters with disabilities) quite heavily,” said Nicole Krungle with the Greater Cincinnati Voter Collaborative. “The state has laws about who can turn in a ballot for somebody else, and they’re very restrictive.”
Efforts are being made to mitigate the challenges caused by the new directive. In Hamilton County, election officials have set up a drive-through attestation station for those who need to deliver a ballot on someone else’s behalf. Located across from the Board of Elections at 4700 Smith Road, this station allows people with disabilities to complete the necessary paperwork without leaving their vehicles. “If you have a disability and (can’t) get in the Board of Elections and you need to drop somebody else’s ballot off, you don’t have to get out of your car and go into the building to sign,” Krungle explained.
The new rules have caused confusion and frustration for many Ohio voters, and Secretary LaRose addressed this in an Oct. 16 Facebook post, where he pushed back against what he referred to as “ridiculous misreporting” on the directive. While he didn’t go into further detail, LaRose reassured voters that the directive offers ample options for disabled voters to cast their ballots. “Disabled voters have many convenient options to vote,” the post read. “If you’re returning someone else’s ballot, you need to sign a form that says you’re doing so with legal authority. That protects you and the voter.”
As the election season continues, it remains to be seen how these new restrictions will affect voter turnout, particularly among people with disabilities, who often rely on others to assist them in casting their ballots. While the directive aims to curb any potential for fraud, it also raises concerns about accessibility and fairness in the voting process.
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