Vetoed by Governor Ted Strickland

Full Bill Text
Veto Letter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that issues amendments to election law, including prohibiting same day voter registration and application for absentee ballots, requiring the Secretary of State to submit to county board of elections any motor vehicle records that conflict with information provided on voter registration applications, and allowing observers at early voting places.

Highlights:

- Eliminates the period in which voters may dually register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot by extending the deadline for absentee ballots to be printed and ready for use from 35 days before the election to 28 days for voters who are applying to vote absentee other than in person, and 20 days for voters who are applying to vote absentee in person. The original deadline for absentee ballots to be printed and ready for overseas voters and uniformed services voters remains unchanged at 35 days before the election (Sec. 1). - Requires the Secretary of State and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to match information in the statewide voter registration database with motor vehicle records to verify the accuracy of the information provided on voter registration applications (Sec. 1). - Requires the Secretary to notify the board of elections of any mismatches between voter registration information and motor vehicle records, and requires the board of elections to notify each affected voter of the mismatch and to provide the voter with the opportunity to correct the information (Sec. 1). - Defines a "mismatch" as any discrepancy between driver's license numbers, social security numbers, or dates of birth in the statewide voter registration database as compared to motor vehicle records (Sec. 1). - Requires the board of elections to notify absentee voters, including those in the armed services, by mail or telephone if the board determines that the ballot statement completed by the voter is incomplete and will be rejected if the voter does not complete the ballot statement prior to the closing of polls on election day (Sec. 1). - Specifies that the board of elections is not required to notify an absentee voter, including those in the armed services, of an incomplete ballot statement if the ballot is received less than 8 days before the closing of polls on election day (Sec. 1). - Allows observers to be appointed to early voting places, and specifies that observers who serve during the casting of the ballots are only allowed to (Sec. 1):

- Watch and listen to the activities conducted by election officials and the interactions between election officials and voters; and - Make notes on observations without using photographic, video, or audio recordings.

- Prohibits observers from interacting with election officials or voters while the observer is (Sec. 1):

- Inside the polling place; - Within the area between the polling place and the thoroughfares or walkways leading to the polling place; or - Within ten feet of any voter waiting in line to vote if the line of voters extends beyond the walkways.

- Specifies that observers are not in violation of the above prohibition for incidental interaction with a voter or election official, such as an exchange of greetings (Sec. 1). - This is a substitute bill sponsored by the House Committee on State Government & Elections.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that issues amendments to election law, including prohibiting same day voter registration and application for absentee ballots, requiring the Secretary of State to submit to county board of elections any motor vehicle records that conflict with information provided on voter registration applications, and allowing observers at early voting places.

Highlights:

- Eliminates the period in which voters may dually register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot by extending the deadline for absentee ballots to be printed and ready for use from 35 days before the election to 28 days for voters who are applying to vote absentee other than in person, and 20 days for voters who are applying to vote absentee in person. The original deadline for absentee ballots to be printed and ready for overseas voters and uniformed services voters remains unchanged at 35 days before the election (Sec. 1). - Requires the Secretary of State and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to match information in the statewide voter registration database with motor vehicle records to verify the accuracy of the information provided on voter registration applications (Sec. 1). - Requires the Secretary to notify the board of elections of any mismatches between voter registration information and motor vehicle records, and requires the board of elections to notify each affected voter of the mismatch and to provide the voter with the opportunity to correct the information (Sec. 1). - Defines a "mismatch" as any discrepancy between driver's license numbers, social security numbers, or dates of birth in the statewide voter registration database as compared to motor vehicle records (Sec. 1). - Requires the board of elections to notify absentee voters, including those in the armed services, by mail or telephone if the board determines that the ballot statement completed by the voter is incomplete and will be rejected if the voter does not complete the ballot statement prior to the closing of polls on election day (Sec. 1). - Specifies that the board of elections is not required to notify an absentee voter, including those in the armed services, of an incomplete ballot statement if the ballot is received less than 8 days before the closing of polls on election day (Sec. 1). - Allows observers to be appointed to early voting places, and specifies that observers who serve during the casting of the ballots are only allowed to (Sec. 1):

- Watch and listen to the activities conducted by election officials and the interactions between election officials and voters; and - Make notes on observations without using photographic, video, or audio recordings.

- Prohibits observers from interacting with election officials or voters while the observer is (Sec. 1):

- Inside the polling place; - Within the area between the polling place and the thoroughfares or walkways leading to the polling place; or - Within ten feet of any voter waiting in line to vote if the line of voters extends beyond the walkways.

- This is a substitute bill sponsored by the Senate Committee on State & Local Government & Veterans Affairs.

Full Bill Text