A collective of activist groups submitted a letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose demanding that the changes to the primary election also follow the National Voter Registration Act and the Ohio Constitution.
The letter from League of Women Voters of Ohio, A. Philip Randolph Institute Ohio, ACLU of Ohio, Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights, and Demos reminded La Rose that the deadline for voter registration must be no more than 30 days before a federal election.
Although Ohio moved its primary election from March 17 to June 2 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Board of Elections also announced that the registration deadline would still be February 18, rather than be extended.
“Yes, in many ways we are in uncharted territory. But neither the global pandemic, nor the fact that the election date is changed, means that we need to devolve into anarchy,” said Freda Levenson, Legal Director for the ACLU of Ohio, in a statement. “The national and state laws that protect the rights of Ohio voters are still in effect and must be followed. Under the law, Ohio voters must be permitted to register up until 30 days before a federal election.”
Brenda Wright, the senior adviser for legal strategies at Demos, said that registration dates move with modified election dates.
“That’s critical, because arbitrary voter registration deadlines are a barrier to the ballot for too many voters, especially voters of color,” Wright said in a statement.
Ohio currently has 169 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one confirmed death, according to the Ohio Department of Health. These cases are spread out across 28 counties and have resulted in 39 hospitalizations.
“It is important that all eligible Ohioans get to exercise their right to vote in this important election,” said Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, in a statement. “Every other jurisdiction that has felt compelled to move its primary election date because of the current health crisis has recognized that the law requires that people must be allowed to register to vote for up to 30 days before the new election date. There is no reason for Ohio to ignore clear and settled law.”
Read the letter here.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with Battleground State News and The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
