But that's just what would happen if Ohio House passes SB 293, a bill that would take away Ohio’s long-standing 4-day acceptance window for absentee ballots that were mailed on time and postmarked by the day before Election Day.

Last week, the Ohio Senate passed SB 293. Senate hearings for the bill were held during an election when election officials–the people best equipped to give lawmakers the accurate information they need–were busy running an election and unable to provide insight. 

Now it’s happening again in the Ohio House, where anti-voting politicians are again trying to fast-track this legislation, attempting to push the bill through in just one day.

If SB 293 passes, it means voters who followed the rules and got their ballots in on time would have their votes thrown out for something out of their control– the speed of our postal system. 

Ohioans with disabilities, rural Ohioans, Ohio seniors, and the working Ohioans who are most reliant on absentee voting to be able to participate in elections are at an especially high risk of having their votes thrown out simply because of mail delays. 

SB 293 wouldn’t result in more secure elections, it would only make voting harder for Ohioans whose ballots are delayed by our postal system. Strong safeguards like signature matching, ballot tracking, and bipartisan oversight already make voting by mail secure—what this bill would result in is fewer valid votes being counted. 

Ohio’s 4-day acceptance period doesn’t extend the time Ohio voters can cast a ballot, it’s simply a mail delivery window to ensure ballots from eligible voters are counted. 

But if SB 293 were to pass, thousands of legal ballots from eligible voters would be rejected because of the post office, not the voter. 

We can't let that happen.

The General Government Committee in the Ohio House is holding its first hearing on SB 293 this Tuesday, November 18, at 12:30, and if it passes there lawmakers are threatening to take it to the House floor for a full vote later on Tuesday.

Here's what to do right now:

• Complete this action to email your Ohio House member and members of the committee and tell them to vote NO on this unnecessary and harmful anti-voter bill.
• Call your Ohio House member to tell them you oppose this bill and how it could affect you or someone you know: make it personal! Some things you can talk about include why voting by mail is essential to you or a family member, how far a drive your Boards of Elections is from you, or your recent experiences with slow mail. Find your rep here.
• Share this with 5 friends who care about Ohio democracy! Most Ohioans strongly support voting by mail and would oppose this change if they knew about it.

Go here to tell Ohio lawmakers to count every eligible vote