SB 293 Ohio Senate · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Revise deadline to return absent voter ballots

Summary

To amend sections 3509.05, 3511.09, and 3511.11 of the Revised Code to require all marked absent voter's ballots to be delivered to the board of elections by the close of the polls on Election Day in order to be counted.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Nov 2025

Senate Passage

Nov 2025

House Passage

Nov 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Oct 14, 2025 Signed Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed by the House → As Enrolled · 6 edits · Dec 19, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Ohio election law to strengthen voter roll maintenance, modify provisional voting procedures, and update definitions related to elections and political parties. The changes clarify when provisional ballots are valid, how voter registration records are verified, and establish stricter requirements for confirming voter eligibility. These modifications aim to improve election integrity while maintaining access to voting for eligible citizens.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new definitions for various election terms and enhanced procedures for voter registration verification and provisional ballot processing across all Ohio counties.

DEFINITION

Added comprehensive definitions for election-related terms including 'voter residence', 'precinct', 'polling place', 'election officer', 'acknowledgment notice', 'confirmation notice', 'designated agency', and various identification types.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified provisional voting requirements to specify when electors must vote by provisional ballot and the conditions under which those ballots will be counted or rejected.

REQUIREMENT

Enhanced voter registration verification procedures requiring boards of elections to contact electors when database information doesn't match records from other state agencies.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions requiring election integrity unit investigations for individuals identified as potentially ineligible voters and established procedures for challenging voter registration records.

TIMELINE

Modified deadlines for voter registration applications, confirmation notices, and provisional ballot verification periods to ensure timely processing while maintaining election integrity.

TECHNICAL

Added detailed forms and procedures for provisional ballot affirmations including requirements for photo identification, proof of citizenship, and voter registration updates.

As Passed by the Senate → As Passed by the House · 8 edits · Nov 19, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was significantly expanded from Senate to House version, transforming from a narrow focus on absent voter ballot deadlines to a comprehensive voter integrity and registration overhaul. The House version adds extensive provisions for voter roll maintenance, citizenship verification, provisional voting procedures, and political party definitions. These changes substantially increase the scope of election administration requirements and introduce new verification mechanisms for voter eligibility.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely modifying absent voter ballot deadlines to a comprehensive overhaul covering voter registration maintenance, provisional voting procedures, political party definitions, and election integrity measures across multiple sections of the Revised Code.

SCOPE

Expanded scope from only section 3509.05 (absent voter ballots) to include sections 3501.01, 3503.13, 3503.151, 3503.152, 3503.18, 3503.19, 3503.21, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182, 3505.183, and 3517.14, plus new section 3503.201.

DEFINITION

Added extensive new definitions for election terminology including 'General election', 'Regular municipal/state election', 'Special election', 'Primary', 'Presidential primary election', 'Political party', 'Major/minor political party', 'Candidate', 'Independent candidate', 'Nonpartisan candidate', 'Party candidate', 'Officer of a political party', and various identification and citizenship verification terms.

REQUIREMENT

Added new section 3503.201 establishing procedures for electors who must vote by provisional ballot due to unverified residence addresses or mismatched identification information, including confirmation notices and verification processes.

Added requirements for boards of elections to verify elector information against bureau of motor vehicles and social security administration databases, with specific procedures for addressing discrepancies.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified voter registration requirements to include systematic alien verification (SAVE program) and enhanced citizenship verification processes, with provisions for canceling registrations of individuals who fail to respond to citizenship verification notices.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions for election integrity unit investigations, attorney general referrals for non-compliance with citizenship verification requirements, and enhanced record-keeping for rejected provisional ballots.

TIMELINE

Added specific timelines for voter registration verification (30-60 days for citizenship verification responses), provisional ballot processing (4 days after election), and registration cancellation procedures (120 days after second federal election).

TECHNICAL

Added new definition of 'Designated agency' for voter registration purposes, expanded voter registration options, and modified procedures for provisional ballot affirmations and photo identification requirements.

Floor votes · Senate Nov 21, 2025 · House Nov 20, 2025

How they voted

23–10

Passed

Total votes 33

Nov 21, 2025

D Democratic9

9 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican24

23 Yea 1 Nay

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Dec 9, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Sent To The Governor

legislature

Nov 21, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (23-10)

senate

Nov 20, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (61-29)

house

Nov 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Concurred in House amendments

upper

Nov 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Nov 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

lower

Nov 10, 2025

Introduced

lower

Nov 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Nov 5, 2025

Introduced

Reported - Amended

upper

Oct 15, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

upper

Oct 14, 2025

Introduced

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors