Warrensville Heights, OH- Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) and Department of Justice (DOJ) officials discussed new, restrictive voting changes in Ohio this week. During the call, the Congresswoman shared the recent changes, which eliminate Golden Week, limit early voting to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and the Saturday morning before Election Day, as well as ban counties from sending unsolicited absentee ballots.

“The goal in our state, and every state, should be to increase voter participation, not decrease the number of citizen voices in our electoral process,” said Congresswoman Fudge. “I am pleased the Department of Justice understands the severity of the restrictive voting changes in Ohio and has responded to my calls. Drastically reducing hours to access the polls was insult enough. I am disturbed, but not surprised, by the state’s recent ploy to cut Cuyahoga County’s budget by 10 percent if unsolicited absentee ballots are sent to Ohio voters. This is egregious conduct and must be addressed before things get worse for Ohioans.”

Background: Congresswoman Fudge sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder November 27, 2013 asking him to examine Senate Bill 238 that reduced early voting days and was enacted into Ohio law February 21, 2014.  She sent an additional letter to Attorney General Holder January 24, 2014 urging him to monitor the effects of Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s directive to limit the number of hours voters can access the polls.
 

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