COLUMBUS–Today, as America marks National Voter Registration Day, State Senator Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) calls for renewed commitment by state legislators to increase voter registration in Ohio.

“We know our democracy is stronger when more people are engaged, but a quarter of eligible Americans are still not registered to vote,” said Senator Yuko. “As legislators, we should be promoting policies that encourage participation in elections, instead of excluding people from the democratic process. That is why I have introduced legislation that would create automatic voter registration and move Ohio to the forefront of modern, accessible election procedure.” 

Senator Yuko and Representative Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) introduced Senate Bill 158, also known as the Registration Modernization Act, which would do the following:

• Automatically register to vote all Ohioans with a drivers’ license or state ID


• Automatically register to vote all Ohioans who interact with Jobs and Family Services offices and other agencies designated by the federal Motor Voter law


• Automatically register to vote all graduating Ohio high school students


• Allow anyone to opt out of registration in person or by mail


• Provide online registration for all eligible Ohioans, not just those with a photo ID


• Potentially add over 1 million eligible Ohioans to the voting rolls


• Fix Ohio’s long-standing failure to comply with the federal Motor Voter law

“With November right around the corner, National Voter Registration Day is a reminder to encourage those around us to get involved in the political process,” said Senator Yuko. “With so many issues at stake, there is no better way to let your voice be heard than at the ballot box.” 

Senator Yuko would like to remind registered Ohio voters to update their registration address. If they need to register for the first time, they can do so here.  The deadline to register for this November’s election is October 5^th.