Substitute House Bill 294 will harm Ohio voters and make it more difficult to vote. The new version of the bill no longer includes automated voter registration and verification—the most significant positive component of the original HB 294. Here are just a few additional reasons the bill limits our freedom to vote. Sub HB 294:

• Prohibits prepaid return postage for absentee ballot requests and absentee ballots;

• Eliminates the last day of early voting, reallocating the lost hours during weekdays, but not during the final weekend;

• Codifies a confusing early voting schedule with variable weekday hours during the final week of early voting;

• Shortens the time for Boards to accept voted ballots– with a postmark prior to the election–from 10 days after Election Day to 7 days after Election Day (and that shorter deadline applies to overseas and military voters as well);

• Limits County Boards of Election to 1 drop box, only allows them to be set up at the county board office, and only permits their use starting 28 days before an election;

• Eliminates curbside voting provisions that were in the original HB 294;

• Continues the prohibition of grandchildren dropping off absentee ballots and creates new criminal penalties for unauthorized ballot returns; and

• Requires citizenship status to be listed on Ohio driver’s licenses.

Click "START WRITING" to send a letter to your Ohio Representative urging them to VOTE NO on Sub. HB 294 because it will increase barriers to the ballot for Ohio voters.

On behalf of the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition Steering Committee, thank you for taking action!

- All Voting is Local Action, ACLU of Ohio, Common Cause, League of Women Voters of Ohio, and Ohio Voice