Protecting the Votes of Military Service Members
The nearly six-month delay by the US Census Bureau in providing the data needed for the redistricting process to begin and prolonged decisions by the Ohio Supreme Court resulted in a condensed timeline for the May 3rd primary election. As a result, a March 18th start to Military and Overseas voting is becoming unrealistic for boards of elections to successfully administer. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose took immediate action, working with the legislature, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice and other agencies to reach a solution that ensures the brave men and women of the military serving overseas will have their voices heard at the ballot box in the May 3rd primary.
Following a series of conversations between the Ohio Secretary of State’s office and the Department of Defense, a plan was developed to adjust the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) voting schedule, allocating more time for boards of elections to complete necessary processes and expediting the delivery of the ballot to military members serving abroad without affecting the amount of time required for UOCAVA voting.
The plan received unanimous approval and bipartisan praise in the Ohio Senate on Tuesday. The following day, however, Ohio House Democrats diverged drastically from their Senate colleagues, holding military voting hostage to push their own political agenda. Ultimately, the majority in the House successfully passed the measure ensuring military voters were not disenfranchised.
Secretary LaRose released the following statement after the final House vote Wednesday evening:
Our brave men and women serving overseas deserve better than to be used as pawns in a political standoff. I understand the disagreements over redistricting, but we should have the honor and decency to set those differences aside to give our military voters all the support they need in casting a ballot. Some legislators chose to put politics over patriots today, and they should be ashamed.
I’m convinced more than ever that this effort to delay the May 3 primary election is part of a larger strategy to create chaos and confusion while deep-pocketed out of state interests bankroll an endless parade of partisan litigation. My job is to overcome that noise and provide Ohioans with a secure, accurate and accessible election they can trust. That’s why I went to the General Assembly with this request, and I’m grateful for a unanimous vote in the Ohio Senate and a majority vote in the Ohio House that ensures our military voters will not be disenfranchised by political games.
Spotlighting Women Entrepreneurs
March is Women’s History Month, and accordingly, it is the perfect time to celebrate women-owned businesses home grown in Ohio. These women entrepreneurs have set goals and embraced challenges, all while being mothers, sisters, daughters, and business owners! From nail salons to accounting firms, these talented women do it all and work tirelessly to keep Ohio’s economy moving.
“These women inspire entrepreneurs across the state every day with their ingenuity, determination, and perseverance,” said LaRose. “I applaud them, as I do every other business owner in Ohio for pursuing their dreams, taking risks, and starting businesses.”
Seven businesses from Franklin, Shelby, Ross, Carroll, Morgan, Lucas, and Cuyahoga, are represented in this month’s business spotlight. View the full list here.
For more information on how to get your business started, visit OhioSoS.Gov/Business today.
Coffee & Commerce
Secretary LaRose continues to partner with business groups to ensure Ohio job creators are protected and empowered with the resources they need to succeed. The Secretary spoke with Ohio Chamber of Commerce members and legislative leaders this week as part of the Chamber’s “Coffee & Commerce” event. At the event, Secretary LaRose discussed major victories aimed at cutting through the morass of government bureaucracy so businesses can focus on building Ohio’s economy.
As the front door for new business, the Ohio Secretary of State’s office has a unique opportunity to help better position new and existing businesses for success. Through information on business identity theft and cyber security protection, connecting job creators with resources to help them succeed, and listening to their needs, Ohio can continue to be a beacon for entrepreneurship. Throughout his administration, Secretary LaRose has held numerous roundtables and met with local chambers, farm bureaus, and other business groups to listen to the challenges entrepreneurs face and to find collaborative solutions to maximize growth and success.
Important Election Updates & Reminders
Primary Election Dates & Deadlines:
- April 4, 2022 – Voter Registration Deadline for the Primary Election
- April 5, 2022 – Early Voting Begins for the Primary Election
- May 3, 2022 – Primary Election Day
Election Reminders:
- We need patriotic Ohioans to serve their communities by working as poll workers on Election Day. Sign up at VoteOhio.gov/DefendDemocracy.
- The registration deadline is quickly approaching. Register to vote, update your voter registration information, and check your registration status online in just a few simple steps at VoteOhio.gov.
- The Ohio Secretary of State's office created a new tool to help find your new state legislative and congressional districts. Find your new district at VoteOhio.gov/Districts.
In Case You Missed It:
NBC 4: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose reflects on observing Ukraine presidential election
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — When Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose went to Ukraine to observe their presidential election in 2019, one of the major concerns they had in the country was a foreboding one: Russian interference.
It didn’t happen at the ballot box that year but it now violently has as Russia continues its attack on its neighbor.
“I had the opportunity to go as an election observer, with a group called IRI (International Republican Institute) in coordination with the U.S. Department of State,” LaRose said in an interview with NBC4. “I was there to watch them conduct their primary election as an American election observer to really watch the nuts and bolts of the process, and then, to issue our report on whether it was a fairly conducted election or not.”
Crain’s Cleveland Business: New state laws bring new twists to building a business
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose used a recent visit to Cleveland to promote two new pieces of legislation that he said will make it easier for Ohio businesses to be successful.
Senate Bill 105, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine last Thursday, March 3, requires political subdivisions to recognize state certifications of minority business enterprises, women-owned business enterprises, and veteran-friendly business enterprises.
Senate Bill 276, which DeWine signed into law in January, gives businesses that want to file with the state as limited liability companies (LLCs) more flexibility to organize themselves. It will be especially useful for businesses that have several operations or locations under their umbrella. The new law creates something called a "Series LLC" that would insulate assets of each operation of a business so that the creditors of one operation couldn't reach the assets of the other.