State Rep. Joe Miller introduces bill to expand absentee ballot drop boxes

State Rep. Joe Miller has introduced a bill seeking to expand access to absentee ballot drop boxes in the state, as he says Republicans seek to make voting harder. Miller, D-Amherst, introduced the bill alongside state Rep. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, the pair announced in a news release on Thursday. The bill seeks to provide absentee ballot drop boxes at every polling place in Ohio and to allow absentee ballots to be dropped off at any drop box within the county they were issued. "A healthy and vibrant democratic republic ensures that as many voices as possible are heard," Miller said in the release. "Our bill upholds that principle by providing reasonable and fair options to registered Ohio voters. Recent changes in state law have left many of our constituents worried that their vote will not count. This bill uses a commonsense approach that will maintain election security while responsibly relieving the burden placed on them by SB 293." Senate Bill 293, which was passed by Ohio Republicans last year, removes the four-day grace period for absentee ballots and instructs the Ohio secretary of state to automatically remove voters from the rolls if their information with their county Board of Elections does not match other state information. The League of Women Voters and Council on American-Islamic Relations have sued the state over the law, arguing that its reliance on Bureau of Motor Vehicles records was discriminatory. "Free and fair elections depend on more than just the right to vote," said Russo, who is running for secretary of state, in the release. "They depend on the ability to exercise that right without barriers. Many people rely on absentee ballots, whether they are seniors, people with disabilities, college students away from home, or workers and caregivers whose schedules make in-person voting difficult. Making the return of absentee ballots more straightforward, reliable, and convenient ensures that these voters are not left out of the democratic process." The proposed bill is awaiting assignment to a House committee. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.