FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 9, 2025
Arlington, VA – House Democrat leadership has urged Governor DeWine to veto SB 293, claiming it would burden Ohio voters and disrupt access to the ballot. But their statement fundamentally misrepresents what the bill does. SB 293 strengthens Ohio’s election system, aligns state law with emerging federal requirements, improves administrative efficiency, and increases voter confidence — all while maintaining important protections for military and overseas voters.
National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued the following statement:
“Governor DeWine should sign SB 293 because it is a practical, responsible, and voter-focused update to Ohio law. SB 293 improves efficiency, strengthens voter roll security, maintains military voting protections, and brings Ohio in line with the 34 states that already require ballots to be received by Election Day. This is common-sense reform that enhances both voter access and voter confidence.”
- SB 293 Protects Ohio From Violating Federal Law — A Risk Opponents Ignore
Democratic leadership claims SB 293 “takes away” voting opportunities, but the real threat to voter access is Ohio’s current non-compliant grace-period law.
SB 293 updates Ohio’s absentee ballot deadline because federal courts have determined that Election Day includes both casting and receipt of ballots.
Just last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Republican National Committee v. Wetzel held that:
- Federal Election Day statutes preempt state laws that count ballots after Election Day
- Mississippi’s 5-day grace period violated federal law
- The term “election” includes both the act of voting and the receipt of ballots
- Ballots cannot be received after Election Day without violating federal uniformity
Ohio currently allows 4 days. If the U.S. Supreme Court affirms the Fifth Circuit’s reasoning, Ohio’s law will immediately violate federal statute.
Opponents offer no plan for what happens when that ruling arrives during a presidential election year.
SB 293 prevents last-minute confusion by aligning Ohio’s deadline now, allowing for:
- clear voter education
- predictable election administration
- compliance with federal requirements
SB 293 is responsible governance.
- SB 293 Improves Efficiency and Reduces Delays in Reporting Results
House Democrat leadership claims the bill disrupts voting. In reality, SB 293 helps elections run more smoothly.
The bill improves efficiency by:
- allowing election workers to organize and process ballots in a predictable way
- reducing bottlenecks created by ballots arriving up to four days after Election Day
- preventing delays in reporting final results
- enabling more consistent guidance to county boards of elections
Faster, clearer tabulation windows improve transparency and public trust.
- SB 293 Enhances Voter Confidence by Establishing a Clear End to the Voting Period
The statement from Democratic leadership suggests voters prefer flexible deadlines. But in the real world, uncertainty undermines confidence.
SB 293:
- creates a fixed, definitive end to voting
- reduces the speculation that arises when ballots continue arriving after Election Day
- improves consistency between state rules and federal expectations
Clear deadlines build trust.
- SB 293 Encourages Timely Ballot Returns and Allows More Time to Fix Voter Errors
Opponents incorrectly claim the change harms voters, but an earlier receipt deadline actually helps voters by:
- encouraging earlier ballot return
- giving election officials more time to contact voters to cure errors such as missing signatures
SB 293 strengthens — not weakens — the likelihood that lawful votes are counted.
- Military and Overseas Voters Remain Fully Protected
Democrats imply the bill disadvantages vulnerable voters, yet SB 293 explicitly protects UOCAVA voters:
- Military and overseas citizens keep the four-day post-Election Day deadline
- All UOCAVA ballots continue to go out 45 days before the election
This carve-out ensures service members and overseas Ohioans are unaffected by the change.
- Ohio Would Join the National Majority — Not Become an Outlier
Democratic leadership frames SB 293 as extreme, but 34 states already require ballots to be received by Election Day, including:
-
Absentee Ballott
Indiana
- Kentucky
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
The reform places Ohio within the mainstream.
- SB 293 Strengthens Voter Roll Accuracy and Integrity
Opponents almost entirely ignore the second major component of the bill: voter roll cleanup and verification.
SB 293:
- requires the Secretary of State to conduct monthly checks of the statewide voter registration database
- cross-references registrations with the BMV and the federal SAVE database to identify non-citizens
- cancels registration if a voter is determined not to be a U.S. citizen and refers the case to the Election Integrity Unit
- cleans mismatches involving:
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- driver’s license numbers
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- state ID numbers
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- Social Security numbers
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- dates of birth
These are accuracy and maintenance provisions — not burdens. They ensure Ohio’s voter rolls remain clean, current and reliable.
- The Opposition’s Argument Mischaracterizes the Bill
House Democrat leadership’s call for a veto ignores or misrepresents nearly every substantive component of SB 293:
- It does not eliminate voting opportunities.
- It does not harm military voters.
- It does not reduce access to absentee ballots.
- It does not create barriers to participation.
Instead, the bill:
- aligns Ohio law with federal requirements
- enhances administrative efficiency
- increases voter confidence
- protects military and overseas voters
- strengthens voter roll accuracy
Their opposition is political — not factual.
Conclusion: Governor DeWine Should Sign SB 293
SB 293 is a forward-looking, legally sound, voter-focused bill that prepares Ohio for upcoming federal rulings, improves election operations, and reinforces the accuracy of voter registration records.
For these reasons, Governor DeWine should sign SB 293 and reject the misinformation surrounding it.
The Election Transparency Initiative, a partnership between the American Principles Project (APP) and Susan B. Anthony (SBA) Pro-Life America, was organized to combat federal H.R. 1 and H.R. 4 legislation and advocate for state-based election reforms that voters can trust.
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