HSB 293 IN THE LOOP

Last Friday, I submitted an op-ed to The Blade. It has not been accepted yet, but I wanted to share my thoughts with you directly. We have discussed using this forum to better inform our membership, and we plan to communicate more regularly in the weeks and months ahead.

On Friday, the governor signed Ohio Senate Bill 293 into law. I believe this is a strong win for Ohio elections, and I wanted to share some important facts, especially given the amount of misinformation circulating from Democrats about this bill.

For most Ohio voters, nothing about Election Day changes. You register. You vote. Your ballot counts. That simplicity is intentional. SB 293 does not restrict the right to vote. Instead, it strengthens the accuracy, clarity, and fairness of the systems that support our elections.

At its core, the law focuses on sound election administration. Elections depend on accurate voter records and clear deadlines. SB 293 modernizes Ohio’s election procedures using tools and processes that boards of elections already use today, bringing consistency and transparency statewide.

Key updates include a clear Election Day deadline for non-military and non-overseas absentee ballots, eliminating post-Election Day confusion. The law also formally codifies existing monthly reviews for deceased individuals and non-citizens, placing long-standing administrative practices into statute.

Importantly, voters with registration data mismatches are notified and given opportunities to correct issues. If unresolved, voters may still vote provisionally, with ballots counted once eligibility is confirmed. Voters are not turned away or silently removed. The system favors correction over punishment.

It is also worth noting that Democrats strongly opposed this bill, and many expected Governor DeWine to veto it. The governor has stated that he signed SB 293 to avoid disrupting the upcoming primary, noting that revised election legislation is expected to be introduced in the House or Senate early next year. Regardless of the politics, this bill now sets the baseline for Ohio election administration moving forward.

Below are simple talking points members can use in day-to-day conversations:

Quick Talking Points

• If your registration is correct, nothing changes for you.
• The bill improves voter roll accuracy using data the state already has.
• Voters are notified and given time to fix issues. No silent removals.
• Provisional ballots protect voters when paperwork issues arise.
• Election Day now clearly means Election Day for absentee ballot returns.
• Monthly reviews for deceased and non citizen records were already happening. This law just puts them into statute.
• The goal is fairness, accuracy, and trust in election results.
• Election integrity protects the value of every legitimate vote.

For voters who do things right, nothing becomes harder. SB 293 strengthens confidence in Ohio elections while keeping voting accessible and straightforward.

This is what common sense election integrity looks like.

Wishing you all a relaxing holiday season. Let’s rest up and get ready to get to work in 2026. There is a lot to do.

Don