HB 2

Thursday, May 30, 2024
To: Members of the Ohio Legislature
From: Pete Bucher, Chief of Staff, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund
Re: House Bill 2 (Special Session)

Dear Honorable Legislators,

I am writing to inform you that the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund will be scoring House Bill 2 (HB 2) for the purposes of our Legislative Scorecard for the 135th Ohio General Assembly. We urge you to vote yes on this legislation to delay the deadline for a major political party to certify its presidential and vice presidential candidates to the Secretary of State for the 2024 general election.

At the OEC Action Fund, we believe a healthy democracy is essential for a healthy environment. We support legislation designed to make common sense fixes to allow consistent administration of Ohio elections. To the extent that HB 2 passes as a “clean bill” without politicized amendments added to it, the OEC Action Fund will be doing extensive public education on the content of the legislation and the votes of Legislators.

The OEC Action Fund urges a yes vote on H.B. 2, delaying the deadline for political party candidates to certify presidential and vice presidential candidates. We urge a yes vote as long as no other substantive provisions are added to the legislation that alter the original intent.

Regardless of political affiliation, all Ohioans should want both major party candidates for President of the United States on the ballot in Ohio. Ohioans expect to vote in the Presidential election and have all eligible candidates on the ballot. This provision in the Ohio Revised Code isn’t new – but neither is the necessary fix. This body has acted in previous years to ensure Barack Obama, Mitt Romey, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden have all received ballot access, despite facing the same issue. Any attempt to change course now is purely political gamesmanship.

We know what change needs to happen to fix the issue—it should be easy and straightforward.

For these reasons, as long as no other substantive provisions are added to the legislation that alter the original intent, the OEC Action Fund urges a yes vote on H.B. 2.

If you have any questions, please direct them to me at pbucher@theoec.org.

Sincerely,

Pete Bucher
Chief of Staff
OEC Action Fund

Proponent Testimony of Spencer Dirrig, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund
House Bill 2
Ohio House Government Oversight Committee
May 29, 2024

Chair Peterson, Vice Chair Thomas, Ranking Member Humphrey and Members of the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before this committee today on House Bill 2 (HB 2), legislation to delay the deadline for a major political party to certify its presidential. and vice presidential candidates to the Secretary of State for the 2024 general election. At the OEC Action Fund, we believe a healthy democracy is essential for a healthy environment. We support legislation designed to make common sense fixes to allow consistent administration of Ohio elections.

The OEC Action Fund urges a yes vote on H.B. 2, delaying the deadline for political party candidates to certify presidential and vice presidential candidates. We urge a yes vote as long as no other substantive provisions are added to the legislation that poison its common sense provisions.

Regardless of political affiliation, all Ohioans should want both major party candidates for President of the United States on the ballot in Ohio. Ohioans expect to vote in the Presidential election and have all eligible candidates on the ballot. This provision in the Ohio Revised Code isn’t new – but neither is the necessary fix. This body has acted in previous years to ensure Barack Obama, Mitt Romey, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden have all received ballot access, despite facing the same issue. Any attempt to change course, now that it impacts a President of the opposing party, is purely political gamesmanship and is an insult to Ohioans and our elections.

We know what change needs to happen to fix the issue—it should be easy and straightforward.

In the present instance, the problem impacts the Democratic candidate for President. But if a similar issue faced the Republican candidate for President, now or in the future, the OEC Action Fund would be here testifying for the exact same fix. This isn’t a partisan issue—all eligible candidates should be on the ballot as Ohio voters will expect them to be.

For these reasons, as long as the legislation isn’t amended to include any party’s “policy priorities,” meant to poison the legislation, the OEC Action Fund urges a yes vote on H.B. 2.

Respectfully submitted,

Spencer E. Dirrig
Director, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund

HB 2 Scorecard Letter to Members of the Ohio Legislator

HB 2 Proponent Testimony