Rep. Russo joins House Democrats to urge LaRose to do more to prepare state for November election
COLUMBUS— State Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and House Democrats Tuesday sent a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose addressing recent major developments in Ohio’s elections. Ohioans watched last week as Post Office mailboxes and processing machinery were dismantled and removed in Ohio and across the country. Following national outcry over potential election interference, USPS has said they would halt additional reorganization changes until after the November election, but it is still unclear whether the reductions in service and processing will be undone.
Amid the USPS controversy, Secretary LaRose held a press conference to announce he was prohibiting all counties, no matter their size and population, from having more than one secure ballot drop box. He also said he would not require masks in polling places and recently ordered Boards of Elections to send voter purge mailings to 119,000 Ohioans just one month before the start of Early Voting.
“Ohio's most recent primary election already demonstrated the need for an easier, more efficient absentee voting process,” said Rep. Russo. “There are a number of actions Secretary LaRose has the authority to implement right now so that Ohioans aren't forced to make the same unconscionable choice between risking their health and safety and exercising their constitutional rights for the Nov. 3 election. We need our Secretary of State to step up and do what is right."
The members raised their concerns with these alarming choices and demanded that Secretary LaRose do everything in his power for voters in these unprecedented times. The caucus provided him a 16-point checklist of what they would like to see from his office including:
- Multiple secure drop boxes
- Paying return postage
- Keeping all polling locations open
- Online absentee ballot application