1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

​I am writing to you today as a constituent and a concerned citizen to express my profound disappointment and opposition regarding the passage of Senate Bill 293, which eliminates the four-day grace period for mailed absentee ballots. ​For years, Ohio has balanced election security with voter accessibility. The four-day grace period was a vital safety net that ensured voters who mailed their ballots on time—postmarked by the day before the election—were not disenfranchised due to postal delays entirely out of their control. By removing this provision, the General Assembly has effectively shifted the burden of the postal service’s performance onto the individual voter. ​Even Governor DeWine admitted upon signing this bill that he did so "reluctantly," acknowledging that Ohio runs secure elections and that the previous grace period was "reasonable." It is disheartening that the legislature chose to fix a system that the Governor himself admitted was not broken, largely in response to external legal pressures rather than the needs of Ohio voters. ​This legislation represents a step backward for our state. By requiring ballots to be received by Election Day regardless of when they were mailed, we are virtually guaranteeing that thousands of valid, legal votes from eligible citizens will be discarded in future elections. ​I urge you to oppose any future legislation that restricts voter access or complicates the voting process. Democracy is strongest when participation is encouraged, not stifled. I ask that you commit to protecting the rights of all Ohioans to have their voices heard and to work toward restoring the protections that have recently been stripped away. ​We should be making it easier for eligible Ohioans to vote, not creating bureaucratic hurdles that silence them.