Ohio veterans warn mail-in voting changes could silence military voices

By Farah Siddiqi

Ohio lawmakers are debating new legislation to shorten the mail-in voting window, requiring absentee ballots to arrive by the time polls close on Election Day.

Senate Bill 293, introduced by Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, and Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, would require all ballots to be received before polls close. Some veterans warn the change could make it harder for service members overseas to have their votes counted.

John Matecki, an Air Force retiree, said when he served abroad, election officials helped ensure ballots were sent back on time but mail delays were common.

"From a deployed aspect, yes, I believe it would. Getting mail sometimes is a little bit tricky and delayed," Matecki noted. "But it's not a surprise of when the election is, so I don't know if it would be that great of a challenge."

Current law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within four days. Supporters of the bill say the goal is consistency and accuracy. Gavarone argued requiring ballots to be received by Election Day ensures fairness and removes any ambiguity.

Matecki pointed out keeping a short grace period matters, especially for local and state races often decided by narrow margins.

"If you look at a school levy for an area, a few hundred swings that one way or another," Matecki observed. "If you've got a hundred folks that are voting absentee ballot militarywise, that could swing whether that passes or gets declined."

According to state data, about 17,000 military Ohioans voted absentee in 2024. Advocates argued removing the grace period could disenfranchise those serving abroad, especially in close elections. Lawmakers plan to hold hearings this fall, with hopes of passing the measure before 2026.

Reporting by Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.