Improving Ohio elections

Improving Ohio elections

Findlay Courier: During a successful campaign for Ohio Secretary of State last year, Jon Husted proposed common-sense reforms he hoped would ensure voting takes place in 2012 without a major hitch.

While it remains to be seen if that will happen, the groundwork is now in place that includes several of Husted’s ideas.

Bills have passed in both the Republican-controlled House and Senate, with differences in the two proposals still to be hashed out before Gov. John Kasich signs on.

One thing that appears certain is that the early-voting period, which is now 35 days, will be shortened.

Other changes aim to reduce the number of provisional ballots cast on election day. A measure approved by the Senate would allow for people to register to vote and update their address online, something 10 states already allow. Another does away with the five-day period in which new voters can register and then immediately vote, a rule that some say invited fraud.

Election reform, of course, is political by nature. But if the goal is to encourage voting, make it convenient, and keep election costs manageable, a careful merging of the two bills should achieve that.