Ohio HB194, How it Changes How You Vote

On July 1, 2011, one of Ohio Governor John Kasich’s first actions was to sign HB194, styled “To revise the Election Law.”  For a more in depth review of HB194, please see the Ohio General Assembly’s page which lists the legislature’s actions regarding the bill and a link to an html version of HB194 “As Enrolled.”

Earlier in the legislative process, on May 18, 2011 supporters of the measure released the Ohio House Republican Caucus- Comprehensive Set of Election Reforms. That same day, opponents released the House Democrats – Overview of Primary Concerns.

Presently, HB194 has become the subject of a referendum petition drive attempting to put the law to a vote by Ohio voters.   Supporters of the effort to put repeal of HB194 on the ballot, Fair Elections Ohio have until Thursday, September 29, 2011 to submit at least 231,154 valid signatures to the Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s office.  Of those signatures, there must be at least 3% each of the number of electors who voted in the governor’s election in 2010 from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.