Voting Access Scorecard - The franchise project

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Voting Access Scorecard - Ohio

The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Ohio. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.

Currently, Ohio ranks 21. You can make a difference! Take action now!

Overall score: 18 / 30

Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality

State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/register.aspx		N
State offers Election Day registration
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/register.aspx		N
State has automatic registration
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/register.aspx		N
State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification)
A 2006 federal case permanently enjoined voter registration restrictions. Project Vote v. Blackwell, 455 F. Supp. 2d 694 (N.D. Ohio 2006): https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCOURTS-ohnd-1_06-cv-01628/pdf/USCOURTS-ohnd-1_06-cv-01628-0.pdf		Y
State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes
A 2006 federal case permanently enjoined voter registration restrictions. Project Vote v. Blackwell, 455 F. Supp. 2d 694 (N.D. Ohio 2006): https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCOURTS-ohnd-1_06-cv-01628/pdf/USCOURTS-ohnd-1_06-cv-01628-0.pdf		Y
State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/elections/directives/2016/Dir2016-36.pdf		N
State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/elections/directives/2016/Dir2016-36.pdf		Y
State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/elections/directives/2016/Dir2016-36.pdf		Y
State holds all elections entirely by mail
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/register.aspx		N
State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/elections/directives/2016/Dir2016-36.pdf		Y
State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery)
Must be received by the close of polls on Election Day (in person) or postmarked the day before Election Day and received no later than 10 days after Election Day (by mail). Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/elections/directives/2016/Dir2016-36.pdf		N
State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/elections/directives/2016/Dir2016-36.pdf		N
State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters/absenteeVoting.aspx#byMail		N
State allows voters to register online
Ohio Secretary of State: https://olvr.sos.state.oh.us/		Y
State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/sites/ballotTracking/ballotTracking.aspx?page=20547		Y
State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/sites/ballotTracking/ballotTracking.aspx?page=20547		Y
State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters/ID.aspx		Y
State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters/ID.aspx		Y
If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all)
If the voter does not have any of the above forms of identification the voter may provide either an Ohio driver’s license or state identification number (which begins with two letters followed by six numbers) or the last four digits of a Social Security number and cast a provisional ballot. Once the information is reviewed and verified by the board of elections, the ballot will be counted. Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters/ID.aspx		Y
During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form
OH Rev. Code 3503.21: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3503.21		Y
State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck
Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) 		N
State is Member of ERIC
ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) 		Y
State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request
Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/mediaCenter/2017/2017-06-30-a.aspx		N
State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete
OH St. § 2961.01: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2961.01		Y
State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration
OH St. § 2961.01: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2961.01		N
State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole
OH St. § 2961.01: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2961.01		Y
State voting technology requires a paper trail
OH St. § 3506.10: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3506.10v1		Y
State requires poll worker training
OH St. § 3501.27(A), (B) & (C): http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3501.27		Y
State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification
Ohio St. § 3506.05: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3506.05		Y
State provides readily accessible voting technology information
Ohio Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters.aspx		N

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