Overview
- Senate Bill 293 would require mail ballots to be received by the close of polls on Election Day, eliminating Ohio’s four-day window for properly postmarked ballots.
- Sponsors argue the change aligns Ohio with 34 states and say 28 days of early voting provide ample time while asserting the shift will bolster confidence in results.
- Opponents including the League of Women Voters, ACLU of Ohio, and Democratic lawmakers warn the cutoff would discard ballots delayed by the Postal Service and burden seniors, rural voters, and people with disabilities.
- State data show roughly 9,500 to 10,000 absentee ballots arrived during the four-day window after the November 2024 election, which critics say illustrates the risk of rejecting timely mailed votes.
- Backers cited federal pressure and legal developments, referencing a Trump executive order, a DOJ warning reported by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Fifth Circuit ruling on receipt deadlines, and a separate federal ruling rejecting related presidential authority on elections.