SB 293: Revise deadline to return absent voter ballots
The bill aims to amend several sections of the Ohio Revised Code to modify laws governing voter roll maintenance, provisional voting, and the return of absent voter ballots. It establishes the Ohio Election Integrity Commission within the Secretary of State's office, consisting of five members. The commission's purpose is to oversee election integrity and address concerns related to voter roll maintenance and absentee ballots. The bill repeals existing sections related to elections and political communications, and harmonizes the remaining sections with previously amended versions. It aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of Ohio's election processes.
| Mar. 20, 2026 | Effective |
| Dec. 19, 2025 | Signed By The Governor |
| Dec. 15, 2025 | Sent to Governor |
| Dec. 09, 2025 | Sent To The Governor |
| Nov. 19, 2025 | Passed |
Sub. S. B. No. 293 136th G.A.
ANACT
To amend sections $3501.01, 3503.13, 3503.151, 3503.152, 3503.18, 3503.19, 3503.21, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182, 3505.183, 3505.20, 3509.05, and 3517.14 and to enact section 3503.201 of the Revised Code to modify the law governing voter roll maintenance, provisional voting, the return of absent voter's ballots, and the membership of the Ohio Election Integrity Commission.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
Section 1.
That sections $3501.01, 3503.13, 3503.151, 3503.152, 3503.18, 3503.19, 3503.21, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182, 3505.183, 3505.20, 3509.05, and 3517.14 be amended and section 3503.201 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 3501.01.
As used in the sections of the Revised Code relating to elections and political communications:
Sec. 3517.14.
(A)(1) There is in the office of the secretary of state the Ohio election integrity commission, consisting of the following five members:
Section 2.
That existing sections $3501.01, 3503.13, 3503.151, 3503.152, 3503.18, 3503.19, 3503.21, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182, 3505.183, 3505.20, 3509.05, and 3517.14 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
Section 3.
The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the following sections, presented in this act as composites of the sections as amended by the acts indicated, are the resulting versions of the sections in effect prior to the effective date of the sections as presented in this act:
Section 3503.21 of the Revised Code as amended by both H.B. 359 and S.B. 63 of the 131st General Assembly.
Section 3505.183 of the Revised Code as amended by both H.B. 45 and H.B. 458 of the 134th General Assembly.
The section numbering of law of a general and permanent nature is complete and in conformity with the Revised Code.
Director, Legislative Service Commission.
Filed in the office of the Secretary of State at Columbus, Ohio, on the _____ day of _____, A. D. 20____.
Secretary of State.
File No. _____ Effective Date _____