Today, Gov. John Kasich used his line-item veto authority today to kill language that would have targeted out-of-state college students who register to vote in Ohio to quickly obtain in-state licenses and vehicle registrations.
He listened to, and stood up for Ohio voters, and ultimately creating better access to the polls.
The State Legislature struck a last minute provision into the transportation bill, or House Bill 53 that would have created an obstacle to college students voting rights. House Bill 53 would require those who register to vote in Ohio to register their vehicles with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles within 30 days. The financial hurdle of a new license and motor vehicle registration could discourage eligible voters.
Asian Services In Action played a vital role to ensure our voice, and the voice of the AAPI community was heard, loud and clear. ASIA partnered up with key organizations throughout the State and created a petition asking Kasich to line-item veto the provision in HB 53 limiting student voting rights. Over 2,000 voters signed-on.
ASIA also sent a letter to the Governor along with member organizations from the Ohio Fair Election Network that outlined how the provision unfairly targets out-of-state students who choose to use their campus address to vote in Ohio. Because of pressure from activists like you, registering to vote in Ohio will remain the same for out-of-state students as it is for longtime residents.