The campaign working to defeat Issue 1 – the proposed amendment on the November ballot that would change Ohio’s system of drawing political maps – is offering mixed messages about mail-in voting.
On one hand, the campaign, known as Ohio Works, argues it is just one of the many tools Democrats use to cheat. On the other hand, the campaign suggests Republicans should use early voting today to defeat Issue 1.
Ohio Works sent a jumbo – and thus expensive – political mailer this week that included two applications for an absentee ballot.
“Complete and return the attached absentee ballot applications today!” it says.
Ohio Works’ other major advertisement, which is airing on TV stations across the state, has a slightly different take on the subject. It ominously lists “mail-in voting” alongside things such as “opening our borders just to win elections” as examples of supposed cheating.
Ohio Works has spent at least $1.7 million airing the ads, which is trying to tie the measure to the Democratic Party, according to a federal disclosure. The campaign against Issue 1 has close ties to the state Republican Party, although it hasn’t yet filed a comprehensive campaign finance report.
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The Issue 1 “no” campaign’s mixed mailing message is a common one for Republicans. Former president Donald Trump has repeatedly disparaged mail voting as rife with fraud. Consequently, Republican voters increasingly have viewed it with suspicion – a recent Pew Research Center survey found that just 28% of Republicans support no-fault absentee voting, down from 49% four years ago. The national Republican Party meanwhile also has the tough job of promoting mail-in voting, describing it this year as a way people can “bank” their vote.
Matt Dole, a spokesperson for Ohio Works, said in an email that “mail-in voting” as mentioned in the ad is different than “Ohio’s current version of secure absentee voting.”
“The ad refers to the Democrat-supported policy of sending live ballots to every voter, which leads to ballot harvesting and a target-rich environment for fraud,” Dole said. “Thankfully, Ohio has stringent rules that protect election integrity, such as requiring that an absentee ballot first be requested and then requiring identification.”
Dole added: “Like with our elections process, Ohioans should reject Democrats’ attempts to change the rules for their own personal gain, and they should do it by voting early in person, by absentee ballot, or on Election Day.”
Issue 1 is backed by the state Democratic Party and a bevy of left-leaning national funders, although its chief spokesperson is a retired Republican Ohio Supreme Court chief justice. The group describes its proposal, which would replace the panel of elected officials in charge of redistricting with a citizens’ commission of Republicans, Democrats and independents, as nonpartisan.