By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The latest attempt to prevent voter fraud in Ohio will make it more difficult for voters to use ballot drop boxes and make more work for election workers across the state.
On Wednesday morning, the Wood County Board of Elections discussed the impact of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s recent directive that only those people dropping off their own ballots may use the drop box.
That means people dropping off ballots for family members must come into the board of elections during business hours and fill out paperwork attesting to their relationship to the voter. They cannot use the drop off box.
Nearly four million Ohioans voted last November, with approximately 25% voting absentee, according to state data.
So the state directive could mean a lot more work for election workers across the state.
Wood County Board of Elections Director Terry Burton said Wednesday morning that many people use the drop box outside the Wood County Courthouse Complex in Bowling Green for ballots filled out by family members.
“It’s not uncommon for spouses to bring in ballots. People have used the drop box with regularity,” Burton said.
But now, instead of dropping them in the ballot box outside the courthouse, family members will have to bring ballots inside to the elections office during office hours, where they will have to fill out paperwork now required by the Secretary of State.
“This is going to be a burden on our office and the voters,” Burton said.
Burton said the elections office will do its best to accommodate the extra traffic.
“We’ll try to streamline as much as possible,” he said. “Only time will tell if we have to hire additional staff.”
LaRose has argued that he is not trying to disenfranchise voters, but rather protect against fraud that could happen. The board of elections is required to have a camera on the drop box.
LaRose has also asked Statehouse leaders to create a law eliminating ballot drop boxes. But as for this general election, the boxes will remain.
Burton said he hopes the ballot drop boxes continue to be an option for voters.
“I feel the drop box has been a positive public service,” he said. “The people like the convenience and the reliability of dropping it off, rather than putting it in the mail.”
LaRose reportedly has concerns about ballot harvesting — someone collecting a bunch of other people’s ballots and submitting them. But right now, there is a defined list of who can submit absentee ballots. This includes a spouse, a parent, grandparent, child, sibling, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew. It excludes caregivers, employees of a care facility, grandchildren, cousins, neighbors, friends and anyone else unrelated.
If anyone not listed returns the ballot, that would be a fourth-degree felony, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. If a voter receives a felony conviction for helping their loved one, they would no longer be able to vote themselves.
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud. However, Republican leaders across the country have cast doubt on mail-in or drop-boxed ballots.
But not all Ohio Republicans agreed with LaRose’s unsubstantiated claims of incoming ballot harvesting. Gov. Mike DeWine has scoffed at LaRose’s ideas.
“Look, I have said consistently that I think we do a very good job in Ohio running elections,” DeWine said to the Ohio Capital Journal. “I think anyone who wants to change what we do has a burden of proof of showing that there’s a problem with what we do now.”
Burton predicted this general election will have high voter turnout, like all presidential election years. The Wood County Board of Elections has seen “robust” interest from citizens applying for absentee ballots.
“We’re going to have a busy election,” Burton said.
Early voting in Ohio begins Oct. 8, with election day on Nov. 5.
