Craig Condemns Voter Suppression Bill

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) voted against Senate Bill 293, a bill that eliminates the grace period for mail-in ballots to be received.

“I fundamentally believe Senate Bill 293 will pose significant barriers to voting access in our state,” said Craig. “This legislation is especially troubling in light of cuts to our postal service and would force the disposal of thousands of legally cast ballots postmarked before Election Day. This clearly appears to have a deleterious impact on Ohioans' ability to exercise their constitutional right and is part of a larger pattern of voter suppression across the country. I am deeply troubled that it is now plaguing elections in our own state.”

This legislation would eliminate the grace period that allows absentee ballots postmarked by the day before Election Day to be counted if they arrive in the mail up to four days after Election Day. Ballots would instead need to be delivered to county boards of elections by the time that polls close on Election Day.

Senate Bill 293 now heads to the Ohio House of Representatives for consideration.