Ohio College Democrats are taking issue with election reform legislation introduced recently by state Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and Republican leadership in the Ohio Senate. 

Senate Bill 380 represents Republican attempts to pass election reform legislation during the lame duck session of Ohio's 127th General Assembly. Discussions began on the bill last week and the legislation addresses some issues of contention between Republicans and Democratic Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner during the campaign season.

The bill seeks to end the so-called "Golden Week" when Ohioans can register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day. It also seeks to allow partisan observers at early voting polls, specifies what must be filled out on absentee ballot envelopes and requires the secretary to provide county elections boards the names of voters whose registration data did not match information in state or federal databases.

College Democrats are saying that the legislation would "make it almost impossible for students to vote absentee in Ohio." 

In a release to the press, Ohio College Democrats take issue with three parts of the legislation that they say would enact "anti-student voting provisions." The college Democrats said these provisions include "an end to the same-day voter registration window, drastic new rules for completing absentee ballot envelopes," and "the creation of a confusing 30-day waiting period between the date a person is registered and the date a person can request an absentee ballot."

"Bill Seitz, John Carey and the rest of the Senate Republicans have made one thing clear with this legislation: the less people that vote, the better for them," said Ohio College Democrats President Zach Roberts.  "By rushing to pass this legislation in a last-minute, lame duck session, they know full well they are potentially stripping thousands of students of their right to fully participate in Ohio elections.  The rallies and voter registration drives at OSU Senator Carey has spoken of are not dangerous to the process, but an indication that young people are ready to be heard in electoral politics." 

State Sen. Carey (R-Wellston) wrote about the legislation in his weekly column last Friday.

The college Democrats said in their release that Senate Bill 380 "effectively moves the voter registration deadline back to 65 days before the election if a person wants to fully participate in early voting." 

"This would significantly cut down on the number of eligible students voters who are either first-year students or who have changed their address from the previous year," the Democrats said. "In addition, all voter registrations will be cross-checked against Bureau of Motor Vehicles records, doubtlessly creating more barriers for individuals who move often, such as students, the homeless, as well as overseas military personnel."

Seitz was not immediately available for comment.