Bill to protect Ohio election workers moves forward

Election workers in Ohio could get a little more privacy based on a new bill working its way through the Statehouse.

Recent threats and gunfire helped push Senate Bill 173 through the Senate. The bill would prevent disclosing as public records any family information or where election workers live.

In mid-June, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections’ third-floor window was struck by gunfire. Deputies were called to the scene, and a window was damaged in an unoccupied office, but no one was injured.

“With a contentious election ahead this November, it is more important than ever that we protect those who protect our democracy,” said Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus. “Just this month, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections was struck by gunfire, on top of numerous other threats against Ohio election officials. Senate Bill 173 creates a necessary safeguard for the hardworking folks that protect our elections.”

The bill would add election officials to the list of designated public service workers whose residential and family information is exempt from public records. Law enforcement officers, first responders, judges, prosecutors, and some medical and social workers are already on that list.

Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, said in testimony, “Today more than ever, our election officials deserve increased protection. Recently, election workers in Washington state, Oregon, Nevada, California and Georgia received letters laced with fentanyl and a call to ‘end elections now.’"

Sheh also talked of closer to home where a board of elections member from her district "explained that during the 2022 midterms one of their polling locations received threat of a mass shooting. Just this year, this same election official said someone threatened to 'whip my ass,’ and another threatened to come to his home.”

Gavarone said a recent poll by the Brennan Center for Justice found that more than a third of surveyed local election officials "have experienced threats, harassment or abuse due to their jobs."

SB173 now heads to the House, which is in recess until later this year.