Ohio grace period for mail-in ballots could end

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(The Center Square) – Legislation working its way through the Ohio General Assembly would put an end to mailed ballots through the U.S. Postal Service being counted after Election Day.

Republicans, easily passing the measure in the Senate, call it a win for election integrity. Democrats call it more voter suppression.

Senate Bill 293 would require all mail-in ballots to be received at county boards of election on Election Day, eliminating a four-day grace for ballots postmarked on or before Election Day.

Bill sponsors Sens. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, and Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, called the current system risky and unfair, and say the waiting gives more opportunity for voter fraud.

“More time waiting equals more time to commit a crime,” the two said in sponsor testimony. "By removing the four-day provision and standing firm on the fixed date of Election Day, voters can have confidence that there won’t be a rush of phony ballots shoved in to skew the results."

In three committee hearings, only two groups testified for the change, while nearly 50 lined up to voice opposition, including the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition.

“I am concerned this bill will throw out valid votes,” testified David Smittle with the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition. "More than 9,500 ballots were received during the November 2024 four-day post-election window. Ballots that are properly filled out, postmarked on time, and mailed by the legal deadline would be discarded simply because of postal delays. Voters would then be punished for something completely outside their control – the speed of the mail."

Any registered voter can request to vote by mail. Election boards can send ballots out on the first day after registration closes; for 2025, it was Oct. 6.

Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, simply called the bill voter suppression.

“This legislation is voter suppression at its core,” Antonio said in a statement. “This bill will make it more difficult for Ohio voters to have their votes count, depriving them of their preferred representation within their local, state, and federal governments. Many Ohioans may experience delays in their mail due to a variety of reasons, including a reduction in federal funding for the U.S. Postal Service, mismanagement and partisan sabotage of our U.S. mail service, and even where they live in the state. This bill further constrains voters and makes it possible that their voice will not be heard, and their ballots will literally be cast aside and not counted. This is absolutely voter suppression.”

The bill now moves to the Ohio House.