Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced Friday that the U.S. Defense Department has granted Ohio’s request to postpone sending out military and overseas primary ballots because of ongoing redistricting delays. (Robin Goist, cleveland.com)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Defense has signed off on Ohio’s request to allow elections officials to mail military ballots as late as April 5 with expedited postage, Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office announced Friday.
The Defense Department’s approval of the changes came just in time, as Friday had been the deadline for military ballots to be sent out. However, state lawmakers passed legislation moving that deadline back because of the Republicans’ ongoing battle with the Ohio Supreme Court over redistricting.
Under the new law, Senate Bill 11, Ohioans in the military and other overseas voters will get an additional 10 days the deadline for those ballots to be returned, if they are mailed prior to the close of polls on May 3, Ohio’s primary election day, LaRose wrote in a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine and legislative leaders.
However, the date of the primary remains up in the air after the Supreme Court rejected GOP officials’ legislative redistricting proposal for a third time on Wednesday. DeWine and legislative Republicans said that means legislative primaries, at least, won’t be able to be held on May 3, though no plan has yet been put forward to address that problem.
Following the court’s ruling, LaRose — a Republican and a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret — ordered county elections officials to not mail any ballots despite the Friday deadline in state law, saying he was finalizing the deal with the Pentagon.
However, LaRose added in the letter, “Even with this new delay caused by the court’s decision, I anticipate that it can still happen well in advance of the new April 5 deadline created by this agreement and SB11.”
Najib Mikati promises justice for Irish UN peacekeeper killed in Lebanon
Lebanon is determined to uncover the circumstances that led to the killing of an Irish UN peacekeeper, caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati said during a visit to the headquarters of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on Friday. Private Sean Rooney, 23, was...
US appeals court says lawsuit against Lebanese bank can proceed
A US court of appeals has ruled that cases against Lebanese commercial banks can be tried outside Lebanon, paving the way for more cases by depositors seeking to unlock their frozen funds. The court decision, issued on Thursday in a case brought by Lebanese depositors...
Submit your event
We will be happy to share your events. Please email us the details and pictures at publish@profilenewsohio.com
Address
P.O. Box: 311001 Independance, Ohio, 44131
Call Us
+1 (216) 269 3272
Email Us
Publish@profilenewsohio.com