To amend sections 3501.11, 3503.14, 3503.20, 3503.28, and 3509.03 and to enact section 3509.11 of the Revised Code to create a permanent absent voter list.
HB400 would create a permanent absent voter list in Ohio and integrate that option into several voter registration and absentee voting forms and systems. The bill amends election law so that a voter can opt in to the permanent list when completing a paper voter registration form, a change-of-address or change-of-name form, an online voter registration application, or an absentee ballot application. It also requires the Secretary of State to prescribe forms and online language that allow electors to request placement on the list and to affirm the required eligibility statements.
Under the bill, county boards of elections would be required to maintain the permanent absent voter list and mail an absentee ballot application to each listed elector for each election no later than 45 days before the close of voter registration for that election. The bill also updates related election materials, including the voter registration brochure, to explain the new permanent list and the process for opting in or removing oneself from it. It preserves existing rules on absentee ballot applications, including identification requirements and prohibitions on prefilled applications by unauthorized persons.
The bill would affect several sections of the Revised Code governing election administration, voter registration forms, online registration, voter information brochures, and absentee voting. It would add a new section, 3509.11, and revise sections 3501.11, 3503.14, 3503.20, 3503.28, and 3509.03 to incorporate the permanent absent voter list into the state’s election procedures. In practical terms, it would expand the administrative duties of county boards of elections and the Secretary of State while creating a recurring mail process for voters who want absentee ballot applications sent automatically.
The overall sentiment in the available record appears neutral to favorable toward making absentee voting more convenient, but there is no committee testimony or vote history to show broader support or opposition. Because the bill was only introduced and has no recorded votes or discussion snippets, there is no documented public debate in the provided materials. The structure of the bill suggests an administrative election-access measure rather than a partisan overhaul.
The main point of potential contention is the policy choice to create a standing absentee-voting list, which may raise concerns about election administration, mailing costs, list maintenance, and ballot-request practices. The bill also continues to require identification and eligibility attestations, which may be relevant to those concerned about election integrity. However, no specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.
HB400 would change Ohio election law by creating a permanent absent voter list and requiring county boards of elections to maintain it and mail absentee ballot applications to listed electors before each election. It would also amend voter registration and absentee ballot forms, online registration language, and voter education materials to include an opt-in mechanism for the list and a process for removal. The bill would add new administrative duties for the Secretary of State and county boards, while leaving existing absentee ballot eligibility, identification, and anti-fraud rules in place.
The available materials show little direct sentiment because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes. Based on the bill text alone, it appears to be a procedural election-administration measure intended to make absentee voting more convenient for voters who want ongoing mail access to ballot applications. No explicit support or opposition is documented in the provided record.
The likely areas of contention are the creation and maintenance of a permanent absentee ballot application list, the cost and administrative burden on county boards of elections, and concerns about whether automatic mailing of applications could affect election integrity or voter-roll accuracy. Supporters would likely emphasize convenience and access for voters who vote absentee regularly, while critics may focus on mailing volume, administrative complexity, and the need for safeguards. The provided record does not identify any named opponents or supporters.