PERRYSBURG, Ohio — With the general election nine weeks away, Ohio's top election official is recommending changing the way people in the state vote.
In a four-page letter sent to Ohio Senate and House leaders, Secretary of State LaRose recommended possibly banning drop boxes and requiring voters to prove citizenship at the polls. He claims the changes would enhance election security.
Perrysburg voter John Hall said he usually votes through ballot drop boxes and it makes him more confident his vote will be counted.
"Problems with the post office has led me to dropping it at the ballot drop box," he said.
But LaRose questioned that convenience, claiming the boxes could be used as a way to bypass election security.
He said the recommendation stems from a lawsuit the Ohio League of Women Voters filed in December of last year.
An Ohio judge ruled in favor of the league, allowing disabled voters the opportunity to get the help of anyone they would like when delivering their ballot, instead of just a relative or postal worker.
Jen Miller, OLWV executive director, said it was not an effort to make elections less secure.
"We care about election integrity and election security, but we also know that voters with disabilities and the elderly need to be able to pick their helpers," she said.
Hall attended an election security event at Perrysburg's Way Public Library Tuesday night hosted by OLWV to hear from Wood County election officials about the security of the election process.
While he doesn't have an opinion about LaRose's letter yet, he just wants as few limitations as possible.
"We want it to be easy to vote, we want to encourage everyone to vote and we want it to be accessible," Hall said.
LaRose does admit in the letter banning drop boxes might not be realistic by November, but he wants the change made as soon as possible.
LaRose's office did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. His full letter to state legislators is below: