8724-14 Disapproving the State's actions to restrict ballot access

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REFERRED TO THE RULES & ORDINANCES COMMITTEE 3/17/14. RESOLUTION NO. 8724 -14 BY: Anderson, Bullock, Madigan, Marx, Nowlin, O'Leary. A RESOLUTION disapproving of the State's actions to restrict citizens' access to the ballot, urging the state to repeal these restrictions, and calling upon the state to instead work on increasing citizens' access to the ballot. WHEREAS, Ohio's voters experienced substantial problems and long lines trying to exercise their constitutional right to vote during the 2004 general election; and WHEREAS, a successful solution to these problems was implemented by (1) enabling citizens to register to vote or update their voting registration and cast their vote on the same day during early in person voting at the boards of elections; (2) allowing each board of elections to set the hours suitable for each county's needs based on the unique demands in each county, including voting hours during after hours, the weekends, especially Sundays, and the Monday before the election; and (3) giving boards of elections the ability in counties where such service is needed to mail vote by mail applications to their citizens with postage - prepaid return envelopes to promote early voting and voting by mail; and WHEREAS, the State has now eliminated these solutions by the adoption of Ohio Senate Bills 205, 216, and 238, and Secretary of State Directive 2014 -06; and WHEREAS, these actions strike at the heart of home rule, a fundamental part of our state constitution recognizing that regional and local differences are best understood and addressed at the local level; and WHEREAS, it thus necessary to disapprove of the State's actions and to call upon the State to repeal these measures and to instead work on increasing citizens' access to the ballot; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Constitution of the State of Ohio and the Ohio Revised Code, municipalities have the power of local self - government; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Constitution of the State of Ohio and the Ohio Revised Code, municipalities have the power to enact laws that are for the health, safety, welfare, comfort and peace of the citizens of the municipality; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO: Section 1. Council and this administration disapprove of Ohio Senate Bills 205, 216, and 238, and Secretary of State Directive 2014 -06 and urge the State to immediately repeal