1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to respectfully urge you to veto Senate Bill 293 (SB 293). Signing this legislation would create unnecessary and unfair barriers to voting for thousands of Ohio citizens, undermining fair access to the ballot box. My core concerns with SB 293, which threaten voting access and equity, are as follows: * Eliminating the Absentee Ballot Grace Period: The bill mandates that all mailed absentee ballots must arrive at the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, eliminating the current grace period for ballots postmarked by the deadline. This change effectively penalizes voters due to mail delays, invalidating legally cast votes. This restriction disproportionately burdens older Ohioans and voters with disabilities who rely on mail-in ballots, undermining the principle of expanded access. * Creating Problematic Voter Registration Procedures: SB 293 introduces vague procedures that could lead to the erroneous cancellation of voter registrations. By relying on discrepancies found across various agency databases—which often contain inaccurate or outdated information—the bill risks disenfranchising otherwise eligible Ohioans. For these reasons—the restriction of mail-in ballot access and the potential for wrongful removal from the registration rolls—SB 293 fundamentally works against the goal of fair and accessible elections. I strongly urge you to uphold the democratic process and protect the right to vote for all eligible Ohioans by vetoing Senate Bill 293. Thank you for your consideration of this critical matter.