S. C. R. No. 21 As Introduced

As Introduced

128th General Assembly

Regular Session

2009-2010

S. C. R. No. 21

Senator Husted

Cosponsors: Senators Wagoner, Goodman, Patton, Jones, Widener, Schaffer, Stewart, Grendell, Buehrer, Seitz, Cates

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To memorialize Congress to ensure military and 1
overseas voters have the opportunity to vote and 2
register to vote. 3

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, The right to vote is a fundamental right; and 4

       WHEREAS, Because of logistical, geographical, operational, 5
and environmental barriers, military and overseas voters are 6
burdened by many obstacles that negatively impact their right to 7
vote and register to vote; and 8

       WHEREAS, Local, state, and federal government entities 9
involved with getting ballots to military and overseas voters must 10
work in conjunction to provide voter registration services and 11
balloting materials in a secure and expeditious manner; and 12

       WHEREAS, Improvements are needed to facilitate the ability of 13
military and overseas voters to register to vote and have their 14
ballots cast and counted, especially with respect to timing and 15
improvement of military and overseas absentee voter registration 16
and absentee balloting procedures; now therefore be it 17

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 128th General Assembly 18
of the State of Ohio, urge the Congress of the United States to 19
support legislation that better facilitates the ability of 20
military and overseas voters to register to vote and have their 21
ballots counted by expanding the amount of time ballots are 22
available to military and overseas voters, providing for the 23
electronic transmission of blank ballots to military and overseas 24
voters, and ensuring that voting information and resources are 25
available at all overseas military installations and through the 26
development of online information portals; and be it further 27

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly 28
authenticated copies of this resolution to the Speaker and Clerk 29
of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro 30
Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, the members of 31
the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio. 32

WHEREAS, Because of logistical, geographical, operational,	5
and environmental barriers, military and overseas voters are	6
burdened by many obstacles that negatively impact their right to	7
vote and register to vote; and	8

WHEREAS, Local, state, and federal government entities	9
involved with getting ballots to military and overseas voters must	10
work in conjunction to provide voter registration services and	11
balloting materials in a secure and expeditious manner; and	12

WHEREAS, Improvements are needed to facilitate the ability of	13
military and overseas voters to register to vote and have their	14
ballots cast and counted, especially with respect to timing and	15
improvement of military and overseas absentee voter registration	16
and absentee balloting procedures; now therefore be it	17

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 128th General Assembly	18
of the State of Ohio, urge the Congress of the United States to	19
support legislation that better facilitates the ability of	20
military and overseas voters to register to vote and have their	21
ballots counted by expanding the amount of time ballots are	22
available to military and overseas voters, providing for the	23
electronic transmission of blank ballots to military and overseas	24
voters, and ensuring that voting information and resources are	25
available at all overseas military installations and through the	26
development of online information portals; and be it further	27

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly	28
authenticated copies of this resolution to the Speaker and Clerk	29
of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro	30
Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, the members of	31
the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio.	32