LaRose touts election opportunities for voters, but says no to more drop boxes

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — In a normal year, a discussion of absentee ballots, voter registration deadlines, and election day procedures might not be newsworthy. But 2020 has proven to be far from a normal year. Ohio’s Secretary of State said today he’s doing all he can to make voting this November as normal as possible for voters.

After the pandemic-induced, on-again, off-again primary -- and frequent attacks on absentee voting by the president -- Frank LaRose felt compelled to lead off a presentation on the November election with an effort to dispel rumors.

“What if someone tries to move the election day, what if the president tries to move the election day or what if the governor tries to suspend the election day?” he said. “Those are things that are not possible.”

With the election 83 days away, LaRose reiterated timetables for registering to vote and for requesting absentee ballots. He also urged voters not to wait until the last minute to request absentee ballots or to return completed ballots. LaRose especially cautioned against requesting an absentee ballot on the Saturday before the election, noting it will be nearly impossible to get a ballot mailed to you, completed, and returned to the board of elections in time for it to be counted.

“Do not wait that long to request your absentee ballot,” he admonished. “The law may permit it, but it is a foolish thing to do.”

LaRose said Ohioans have many options to vote, including drop boxes for absentee ballots at boards of elections. But he said he won’t allow more than one dropbox per county.

“We’re not going to allow the addition of more drop boxes,” he said. “This is something again I think is a fine idea to look at for the future, I hope the legislature weighs in on this.”

But advocates said there should be more.

“Cuyahoga County has 1 million people and 1 ballot drop box,” said Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland). “That led to traffic jams in the chaotic primary election.”

LaRose said poll workers will be wearing masks and frequently cleaning voting machines for those who chose to vote in person on Election Day. He said voters should wear masks as well, but poll workers won’t be charged with enforcing mask usage or turning voters away who don’t wear one.

LaRose has words for those spreading disinformation about elections.

“If you are making Ohioans fearful about elections, you’re kind of doing our foreign adversaries’ work for them.”