1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to strongly urge you to reject Senate Bill 293 and Senate Bill 153, two proposals that pose real and unnecessary harm to Ohio voters. Senate Bill 293 would eliminate Ohio’s long-standing four-day grace period for receiving absentee ballots. This change would mean that voters who follow all the rules—requesting, completing, and mailing their ballots on time—could still be disenfranchised for reasons entirely outside their control, such as routine postal delays. Nearly a third of early voters in November 2025 cast absentee ballots, and many rely on Ohio’s vote-by-mail system because of work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, health conditions, or transportation barriers. Ending the grace period does nothing to improve election integrity or speed up results. Military and overseas ballots would still be accepted for four days after Election Day, demonstrating that the stated rationale for this bill is not consistent or evidence-based. Instead, SB 293 would punish active, engaged citizens who simply want their votes to count. Senate Bill 153 further undermines confidence in our democratic process by limiting voter access and weakening safeguards designed to ensure that all eligible Ohioans can participate fully in our elections. Taken together, these bills move Ohio backward at a time when we should be strengthening—not restricting—voter access and civic engagement. As an Ohio voter, I want elections that are fair, accessible, and trustworthy. These bills do not achieve those goals. They create barriers, introduce confusion, and risk silencing the voices of law-abiding citizens who are doing everything right. I respectfully ask you to vote NO on S.B. 293 and S.B. 153 and instead focus on legislation that supports transparent, efficient, and inclusive election administration. Ohioans deserve laws that protect our right to vote, honor our participation, and uphold the democratic values we all share. Thank you for your time and attention to this critical issue.