COLUMBUS, Ohio — Over the weekend, Governor Mike DeWine signed into law two significant bills from a special legislative session. One bill guarantees President Joe Biden’s inclusion on Ohio’s fall ballot, while the other prohibits contributions from foreign nationals to ballot issue campaigns.
House Bill 2 changes the candidate certification deadline from 90 days before the election to 65 days. This alteration aims to address scheduling issues, having modified the deadline in three of the last four presidential elections.
However, House Bill 2 faced substantial opposition from conservatives. Thirty-one House Republicans and one Republican senator voted against the measure, highlighting internal party divisions.
The second piece of legislation, House Bill 1, prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to ballot issue campaigns. This bill was propelled by the recent approval of an abortion access amendment. A proposed amendment to include green card holders in the ban stirred significant debate.
Democrats unanimously opposed House Bill 1, arguing it grants excessive power to the attorney general, a partisan official, and fails to address dark money from all sources. They also claim the bill aims to hinder the upcoming redistricting ballot issue this fall.
These legislative actions underscore the ongoing partisan disputes in Ohio, mirroring national tensions and the complex nature of election laws and campaign finance regulations.