A group of voting advocates seeking to bring about electoral reforms has resubmitted their petition language to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for a proposed constitutional amendment.
This action follows the rejection of their initial proposal less than three weeks ago. The coalition’s new objective is to obtain approval and ultimately secure a place for the proposal on the 2024 ballot.
Petee Talley, a representative of The Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, is committed to reforming Ohio’s election law.
Talley expressed her belief that the amendment would ensure that every voice is not only heard but also counted in the electorate.
She emphasized that this bill of rights is essential in creating a fair and inclusive pathway to the ballot box for all citizens of Ohio. Additionally, she highlighted the significance of maintaining the security and integrity of elections throughout the process.
The group faced an initial setback when their proposal was rejected by Attorney General Dave Yost. Last month, Yost pointed out four instances where he believed the summary language was unfair and did not accurately reflect the amendment. However, the group has now introduced the changes that were mentioned by Yost.
Talley stated that the Attorney General’s objective is to continue the process and gather over 400,000 signatures once approved, in order to approach the voters.
It remains to be seen whether Yost will approve the revised version of the summary language. In his rejection letter, Yost indicated that the errors he pointed out were just a few examples of the issues present in the initial proposal.
This suggests that it is uncertain whether the group has addressed all the other potential issues in their second version of the petition.
According to Atiba Ellis, an expert in constitutional law, there is a strong possibility that the proposal will progress.
According to Ellis, the summary seems to provide more details about the specific elements of the proposed legislation that need approval. He believes that it is a sincere attempt to meet the requirements set by the Attorney General.
The petition seeks to implement several changes, including the expansion of options for voter IDs. Additionally, it proposes the establishment of a system that would automatically register voters when they apply for or renew a driver’s license.
The petition also advocates for the implementation of same-day voter registration and the addition of more early voting options. Although Secretary of State Frank LaRose has expressed concerns about the potential insecurity of Ohio’s elections with these changes, Ellis argues that the current voting laws in the Buckeye State are among the most restrictive in the country.
According to Ellis, there are several states that have implemented generous registration policies. These include same-day registration, automatic voter registration, and other early registration options.
Additionally, these states allow a wide range of identification methods for both registration and voting purposes. Furthermore, voters in these states have ample opportunities to vote through drop boxes, absentee ballots, and in-person voting.
“Our coalition remains committed to fighting tirelessly for the rights of the people to exercise their full voting power in Ohio,” expressed Talley. “As long as we possess the means to do so, we will persist in our efforts.”
The Ohio Attorney General, Dave Yost, has a deadline of next week to decide on this petition.
