A Shorter Clock: Ohio Removes Mail-In Ballot Grace Period

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed Senate Bill 293 into law, eliminating the state’s four-day mail ballot grace period with only a narrow exception for uniformed and overseas voters. Although the governor said he signed the bill reluctantly and would have preferred a veto, the change immediately alters how mail-in voting works across Ohio. Election officials estimate thousands of ballots could be excluded under the new rules, while advocates warn the shorter timeline will disproportionately affect seniors, people with disabilities, rural voters, and students. The episode also places Ohio’s move within a broader national push to end post-Election Day grace periods, as legal challenges backed by Republican leadership continue to work their way toward the U.S. Supreme Court.

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