Secretary of state would trim days for early voting

NILES — Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner wants to reduce the number of days of in-person early voting, but expand the number of places where voters can cast those ballots.

The current state law allows people to vote at their county board of elections as early as 35 days before Election Day.

One issue raised, primarily by Republicans, during the recent election was there were five days in which people were permitted to register and then immediately vote at a board of elections. That’s because the registration deadline is 30 days before Election Day.

Instead, Brunner, a Democrat, wants to have 20 days for in-person early voting at four locations in each county. People would still be able to vote by mail as early as 35 days before Election Day under her plan.

Changing the early voting time and increasing the number of locations to vote would require action by the state Legislature.

Brunner was at Vernon’s Cafe today for an election summit to discuss ways to improve the state’s voting procedures.

Thomas McCabe, Mahoning County Board of Elections director, supports Brunner’s proposal saying it would provide more access to people who want to vote early.

Kelly Pallante and Jodi Fiorenzo, Trumbull County Board of Elections director and deputy director, respectively, agree that 20 days of early voting is adequate. But they both disagreed with Brunner’s plan to add voting locations.

For the complete story, read Saturday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com