Ohio budget bill will be amended to cover costs for mailing absentee ballots

COLUMBUS — The Republican head of the Ohio House has announced that funding for absentee ballot application mailings will be included in amended budget legislation slated for a floor vote this week.

House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, said in a released statement late last week that the funds would be added as part of other changes. The $1.25 million outlay was not included in the initial House-amended version of the budget bill.

“As the process of finalizing the state budget moves forward, I am working with my colleagues on including additional provisions into the finished product,” Rosenberger said in the statement.

“After further discussion with Secretary [of State Jon] Husted and my colleagues in the House, language appropriating funding for the cost of mailing out absentee ballot applications for Ohio voters will be included in the omnibus amendment to the state budget. We want to give Ohioans as much opportunity to vote as possible and this amendment will help accomplish that,” Rosenberger said.

Under law, enacted last year, the Secretary of State’s Office is the lone public office that can send unsolicited absentee ballot applications to voters.

The Legislature, however, must provide the funding to cover the cost of the mailings.