House Democrats Pass Spineless Legislation to Overhaul Elections
COLUMBUS – State Representative Robert Mecklenborg (R-Green Township) today denounced the passage of Substitute House Bill 260 from the House Elections and Ethics Committee. The legislation passed along party-lines and gives the Ohio Secretary of State ultimate veto power over local Board of Elections appointees. In addition to the power to break any tie vote on the number and location of early voting centers in each county; and authority to dictate to the local boards how to allocate their voting machines and ballots.
“This bill centralizes too much power in the Secretary of State,” said Mecklenborg. “It strips local Boards of Elections of their ability to conduct free, open and transparent elections. I have great respect and trust in our local Boards of Elections. They know their communities and voters better than anyone here in Columbus and should be allowed to make the decisions that are right for their county.”
Mecklenborg offered an amendment to remove a provision to allow for automatic voter registration of a resident of Ohio who graduates from high school, signs up for public services, or applies for or updates their Ohio driver’s license or state identification card. He noted that House Bill 92 offers a clear Republican alternative, which is supported by the Ohio Association of Elections Officials.
“We need to be ever mindful that with the right to vote comes responsibility,” Mecklenborg said. “Voters should be held accountable for registering, voting, and following the simple directions on their ballots. We need to be ever constantly vigilant with respect to the manipulation of groups such as ACORN and its progenies.”
Republican committee members offered amendments to the bill, including a provision to allow a voter to cast a provisional ballot in any precinct in their county. This opens the door to fraud, manipulation of the system and disenfranchisement of the voter. The bill also includes a provision to count over-votes, or “Double Bubble” votes, cast in any race, causing the local Boards of Elections to remake a ballot. Mecklenborg fears that such a provision could lead to a similar spectacle like Florida’s notorious recounts.
House Bill 260 passed from the House Elections and Ethics Committee by a 7-6 vote. It will now move to Democrat-controlled House for consideration.
