***Press Release*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2013

Contact: Adam Warren (614) 466-4583

Turner Denounces Absentee Ballot Bill

Power-grab by Columbus prevents elections officials from meeting voter needs
COLUMBUSToday, State Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) issued the following statement after the introduction of Senate Bill 205. This legislation would bar the proactive mailing of absentee ballot applications by anyone besides the secretary of state, and limit the practice to elections in even-numbered years. It would also bar boards of elections from paying for return postage on applications and ballots, and requires disqualification of votes for overly technical reasons in violation of federal law. Senate Bill 205 is another in a long line of Republican elections bills that will commandeer local decision-making authority and make it harder to vote. Local boards of elections know their voters best, and they should be provided the opportunity to mail absentee ballot applications if they think it is worthwhile. This poorly conceived legislation will throw up more technical hurdles to try to disqualify votes that should be counted. Lawmakers should be trying to make sure that everyones ballot counts, not devising ways to throw them out. Casting a ballot is a responsibility that every citizen in our state ought to take seriously. Its time for the GOP to stop trying to make it harder than it needs to be.

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