RELEASE: Senate Passes Legislation Protecting Ohioans' Voting Rights and Religious Freedoms

COLUMBUS—State Senator Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) announced that the Ohio Senate has passed legislation ensuring that Ohio will have in-person voting on Election Day this fall. The legislation also prohibits any state official from issuing any statewide or regional orders closing places of worship. “As were so many others, I too was shocked when the Ohio primary election was interrupted in March. By supporting and voting for this amendment, I and my fellow proponents are making a clear and unequivocal statement that only the Ohio legislature can set the time, place and manner of our elections," Johnson said. "I will do everything in my capacity as an Ohio state senator to ensure that we return to in-person voting from this point forward and that we have no repeat of what occurred this Spring." The provision protecting the freedom to worship was added in response to a number of “stay at home orders” throughout the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio did not prohibit churches or religious organizations from meeting, but a number of other states did so. The Senate amendment to H.B. 272 would prevent any such statewide or regional closures of churches, if such a situation arises again in Ohio. The bill now returns to the Ohio House of Representatives, which must vote to concur with the Senate changes before the bill can become law.

For more information on the amendments, click here.