Rep. Bryant Bailey: Ohio Voters Dealt a Lump of Coal as DeWine Signs Bill Restricting Vote-by-Mail

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Ashley Bryant Bailey (D-Cincinnati) today underscores the lack of leadership shown by Governor Mike DeWine as he delivers Ohioans a bad deal by signing Senate Bill (SB) 293 into law and stripping voters of long-standing protections that ensured their voices would be heard.

“This holiday season, Ohioans didn’t get peace, joy, or goodwill from their government, we got voter suppression,” said Rep. Bryant Bailey. “By signing SB 293, the governor chose to cave to extreme political pressure instead of standing up for the fundamental right to vote. Ohioans deserve better.”

SB 293 eliminates Ohio’s four-day grace period for absentee ballots-meaning voters who follow every rule, mail their ballot on time, and act in good faith can still have their vote thrown out simply because of mail delays beyond their control. This change disproportionately harms seniors, rural voters, people with disabilities, students, and working Ohioans who rely on vote-by-mail.

“Let’s be clear: this law does nothing to protect election integrity,” continued Rep. Bryant Bailey. “Ohio’s elections were already secure. This law exists for one reason, to make voting harder and to protect politicians who are afraid of being voted out of office.”

Even Governor DeWine himself acknowledged concerns with the bill, signing it only after admitting flaws and suggesting future fixes. But for Ohio voters, the damage is already done.

“A governor should lead with courage, not reluctance,” added Rep. Bryant Bailey. “Signing a bad bill and promising to clean it up later doesn’t protect voters whose ballots will now be discarded. It doesn’t help the rural voter whose mail arrives late. And it doesn’t restore trust in a government that keeps moving the goalposts.”

During House consideration of SB 293, Rep. Bryant Bailey offered a commonsense amendment to prevent voters from being punished for government data errors in the critical weeks before an election, an amendment aligned with federal law and basic fairness. House Republicans rejected it.

“That vote told us everything we needed to know,” said Rep. Bryant Bailey. “This was never about accuracy or integrity. It was about control.”

Rep. Bryant Bailey reaffirmed her commitment to fighting voter suppression at every turn.

“I’ll keep fighting this law in the General Government Committee, on the House floor, and alongside Ohioans who believe our democracy works best when everyone can participate,” concluded Rep. Bryant Bailey. “Ohioans deserve a government that welcomes their voices, not one that cowers at the thought of the people voting them out of office.”