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THREAD ON LAROSE'S SAD APPEAL
For years now, as a legislator, a statewide candidate, and as a Secretary of State, Frank LaRose has been crystal clear about something: he wants voters to be able to request absentee ballots online.
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For years now, as a legislator, a statewide candidate, and as a Secretary of State, Frank LaRose has been crystal clear about something: he wants voters to be able to request absentee ballots online.
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As a state senator, back in 2018, he pushed for a bill to make it happen: "“Our bill will help to meet the expectations of today’s voters by making it easier and quicker to request your ballot."
2/ https://www.franklarose.com/news/2018/10/2/larose-introduces-bills-to-modernize-absentee-ballot-request-and-encourage-youth-participation-in-primaries
2/ https://www.franklarose.com/news/2018/10/2/larose-introduces-bills-to-modernize-absentee-ballot-request-and-encourage-youth-participation-in-primaries
As a candidate, he pledged to do so: "He also wants to put requests for absentee ballots online and expand civics education to encourage the next generation to vote."
3/ https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181016/ohios-downticket-races-clyde-larose-vie-for-secretary-of-state
3/ https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181016/ohios-downticket-races-clyde-larose-vie-for-secretary-of-state
And again.
"He said he also wants to allow online requests of absentee ballot forms, update the state’s campaign finance records system, and expand civics education."
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https://editions.lib.umn.edu/electionacademy/2018/09/17/ohio-sos-race-partisan-differences-but-shared-commitment-to-fair-elections/
"He said he also wants to allow online requests of absentee ballot forms, update the state’s campaign finance records system, and expand civics education."
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https://editions.lib.umn.edu/electionacademy/2018/09/17/ohio-sos-race-partisan-differences-but-shared-commitment-to-fair-elections/
And during the campaign, he would point to his proposed legislation as evidence of that commitment:
"LaRose is currently pushing a bill in Ohio that would allow people to register for absentee ballots online."
https://www.thelantern.com/2018/09/secretary-of-state-race-to-address-voter-rights-redistricting-in-ohio/
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"LaRose is currently pushing a bill in Ohio that would allow people to register for absentee ballots online."
https://www.thelantern.com/2018/09/secretary-of-state-race-to-address-voter-rights-redistricting-in-ohio/
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And once he became secretary of state, he has again reaffirmed his commitment to this reform:
"Online absentee ballot applications: LaRose agrees on this issue, but has resisted taking action by himself."
6/ https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2020/08/05/elections-2020-larose-caught-between-advocates-inactive-legislature/
"Online absentee ballot applications: LaRose agrees on this issue, but has resisted taking action by himself."
6/ https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2020/08/05/elections-2020-larose-caught-between-advocates-inactive-legislature/
In the @Enquirer : "The state needs to allow online requests for absentee ballots..., he said."
He even criticized the current process: "LaRose said the current paper system is “slow and cumbersome” and “doesn’t meet expectations.””
7/ https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/05/05/ohioans-should-able-request-ballots-online-elections-chief-says/5171320002/
He even criticized the current process: "LaRose said the current paper system is “slow and cumbersome” and “doesn’t meet expectations.””
7/ https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/05/05/ohioans-should-able-request-ballots-online-elections-chief-says/5171320002/
He said the changes were needed now: "In a usual year, I would not want to make large changes this late in the game, but this is not a usual year. These are unusual times. We have to respond to the unique situation we find ourselves in with these changes" https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/05/05/ohioans-should-able-request-ballots-online-elections-chief-says/5171320002/
So he's said for years he wants this change.
But he also insisted all this time one thing was holding him back..he needed legislative approval to do this: "The General Assembly also would have to sign off on allowing online absentee ballot requests"
9/ https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2020/08/05/elections-2020-larose-caught-between-advocates-inactive-legislature/
But he also insisted all this time one thing was holding him back..he needed legislative approval to do this: "The General Assembly also would have to sign off on allowing online absentee ballot requests"
9/ https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2020/08/05/elections-2020-larose-caught-between-advocates-inactive-legislature/
But here's the problem. All that time LaRose has said he needed a new law to do this, he was wrong.
The law doesn't hold him back. In fact, Ohio statute could not be more clear about absentee applications: “the application need not be in any particular form”
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The law doesn't hold him back. In fact, Ohio statute could not be more clear about absentee applications: “the application need not be in any particular form”
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In other words, under current law, LaRose does not need a change in statute.
Indeed, he could have moved forward on his proposals to allow online applications the day he came into office, and the entire time since.
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Indeed, he could have moved forward on his proposals to allow online applications the day he came into office, and the entire time since.
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To put it differently, rejecting applications that have all the required information because they arrive electronically actually violates the statute as written, since “the application need not be in any particular form.”
The law is clear.
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The law is clear.
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So we went to court to make our case a few months back
After all, as LaRose said: "These are unusual times. We have to respond to the unique situation we find ourselves in with these changes"
We went to court to show LaRose he can do what HE wants to do. That he MUST do it
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After all, as LaRose said: "These are unusual times. We have to respond to the unique situation we find ourselves in with these changes"
We went to court to show LaRose he can do what HE wants to do. That he MUST do it
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He fought us in court, but as we expected, we won.
The judge agreed that the law is clear: "Applications need not to be in “'any particular form'", and that there was no basis in Ohio law for rejecting applications sent electronically.
14/ https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200911/judge-ohioans-can-send-absentee-ballot-requests-by-email-or-fax-larose-to-appeal
The judge agreed that the law is clear: "Applications need not to be in “'any particular form'", and that there was no basis in Ohio law for rejecting applications sent electronically.
14/ https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200911/judge-ohioans-can-send-absentee-ballot-requests-by-email-or-fax-larose-to-appeal
But when I say "we won," I first assumed that included LaRose
After all, he said for years he wanted to do this, but the law wouldn't allow him to. He blamed the legislature for inaction. Now a court finally showed him he can move forward
Big moment for him to lead, right?
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After all, he said for years he wanted to do this, but the law wouldn't allow him to. He blamed the legislature for inaction. Now a court finally showed him he can move forward
Big moment for him to lead, right?
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I mean, he could be working hard this weekend to make sure that what he has advocated all along happens.
That it be in place as soon as possible.
That even though the legislature ignored him his call for change, he won't be stopped.
Leadership!
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That it be in place as soon as possible.
That even though the legislature ignored him his call for change, he won't be stopped.
Leadership!
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He can assure voters that they will stop being denied something the law actually allows them to do
And now is the time to act, because "[t]hese are unusual times. We have to respond to the unique situation we find ourselves in with these changes"
17/ https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/05/05/ohioans-should-able-request-ballots-online-elections-chief-says/5171320002/
And now is the time to act, because "[t]hese are unusual times. We have to respond to the unique situation we find ourselves in with these changes"
17/ https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/05/05/ohioans-should-able-request-ballots-online-elections-chief-says/5171320002/
Instead, when given the chance to finally fulfill his promise, to do what many other states are already doing, he is dragging out the case via appeal, in an effort to have a court rule he does NOT have the power to do what he has said for years he wants to do.
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He calls the decision freeing him up to do what he says he wants to do "dangerous," even though many states already allows online applications, and even though offices around Ohio already accept electronic applications from Ohio voters who happen to live overseas.
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Side note: If it's good enough to accept an emailed application from Russia and Paris, it should be good enough to accept an email from Russia, Ohio and Paris, Ohio.
And the judge pretty much said that.
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And the judge pretty much said that.
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Excuses aside, instead of following Ohio law and getting to work, he wants a court to rule that he can keep breaking his promise, and keep hiding behind the legislature.
What a sad appeal. But says a lot.
But we will keep fighting.
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What a sad appeal. But says a lot.
But we will keep fighting.
END
