State Sen. John Carey (R-Wellston) is taking on election security and his argument to eliminate the election "Golden Week" in his weekly column. 

Carey used his column to talk up Senate Bill 380 - Republican-sponsored legislation that seeks to end the 5-day overlap that allowed Ohioans to both register and vote on the same day during the 2008 Election. The bill would also allow for bipartisan observers at early voting locations.

Republicans have been pushing for such elections reform during the "lame-duck" end of the 127th General Assembly. Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) has said she is holding special meetings and would like the legislature to wait until the 128th General Assembly comes into session before passing any elections legislation. Ohio Democrats will be taking up majority leadership in the Ohio House in the 128th Assembly. 

"To have a successful election, we must have choices, and voters expect the choices they make to be part of a fair and transparent process," Carey wrote in his column. "This election season, perhaps like no other, was marked by a great deal of concern that those casting ballots on November 4th were truly eligible to vote and that the proper checks were in place to prevent any potential fraud or abuse in the system."

Carey said these concerns were magnified "after reports surfaced of people providing suspect information on their registration cards, registering multiple times or accepting gifts and other incentives to register." 

Carey listed various incidents that he deemed suspicious in the 2008 Election.

"According to a report in the Columbus Dispatch, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien opened an investigation earlier this year into voter fraud after 13 out-of-state residents-who were living in Columbus and working for a get-out-the-vote campaign-all registered to vote in Ohio using the same address," Carey wrote. "Another report by the Cleveland Plain Dealer revealed that a Cuyahoga County man filled-out more than 70 voter registration cards through workers for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) after he was given cigarettes and cash in return."

Carey wrote that these incidents affirm a need to further secure and strengthen the elections process, and pointed to the legislation introduced by state Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) as designed to address these issues. 

The so-called "Golden Week" would be eliminated by the legislation proposed by Seitz. The new legislation would require voters, who request an absentee ballot, to be registered 30 days prior to the start of absentee voting. However, individuals who plan to vote in person would still be able to register up to 30 days before the election.

Carey wrote that SB 380 would also allow bipartisan observers at early vote locations "in an effort to protect against fraud, ensure uniformity throughout the voting process and uphold the integrity of our elections system."

The legislation addresses another issue of contention between Republicans and Brunner during the election, namely whether Brunner should share discrepancy lists with county board of elections. 

"In the weeks leading up to Election Day, the Secretary of State announced that thousands of new voters appeared to have driver's license numbers or Social Security numbers that did not match the information they submitted on their voter registration forms," Carey wrote.

"However, when pressed to share this information with local boards of election, the Secretary argued that relevant state laws did not authorize her to share mismatches in her office's voter registration database. SB 380 seeks to clear up any confusion in the law and eliminate opportunities for voter fraud by allowing the Secretary of State to exchange mismatches in voter data with local boards of elections." 

Carey said the legislation would also mandate that without all five pieces of required information on a voter's absentee ballot envelope -- name, address, date of birth, signature, and one of the following: the last four digits of their Social Security number, a driver's license number, or a copy of a valid driver's license, state or federal ID, military ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document -- boards of election would not be allowed to accept the ballot and would be required to notify the voter of this rejection at least seven days before Election Day, giving voters an opportunity to correct any mistakes.

"A fair, transparent and secure elections process is essential to the health of our democracy," Carey wrote. "Voters should feel confident when they cast their ballot that it will count. If we allow fraud, or even the appearance of fraud, to creep into the system, we not only risk compromising election results, but could alienate honest voters."