Ohio lawmakers pass bill limiting Gov. Mike DeWine’s power to change elections, close houses of worship

Boarded windows can be seen at the Ohio Statehouse May 29, 2020 after damage caused by protesters in Columbus

The Ohio House gave final approval Tuesday to House Bill 272, which prohibits Gov. Mike DeWine and other public officials from interfering with state elections or closing houses of worship. (Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland.com)

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio lawmakers on Tuesday sent Gov. Mike DeWine another bill to curtail the governor’s coronavirus powers – this time, to prevent public officials from issuing orders to modify Ohio’s election plan or close houses of worship.

House Bill 272, which majority House Republicans passed on a party-line 58-33 vote, comes in response to a DeWine administration health order postponing the March 17 primary election. DeWine and Secretary of State Frank LaRose attempted to reschedule the election to June 2, but state lawmakers, insisting on their authority to set election dates, moved the election to April 28.

The legislation states that “no public official shall cause an election to be conducted other than in the time, place, and manner prescribed by the Revised Code.” The only exception would be in cases of enemy attack.

HB 272 also would ban any public official in Ohio from closing places of worship -- either statewide or in a particular part of the state. The DeWine administration exempted religious activities from its coronavirus order banning mass gatherings, but the governor said that holding in-person services would be a “huge mistake,” leading many congregations to halt such services.

DeWine has resisted pressure from his fellow Republicans in the legislature to rein in his coronavirus powers, vetoing legislation that would have decriminalized violations of state coronavirus orders.

Gubernatorial spokesman Dan Tierney declined to say Tuesday whether DeWine would sign or veto the bill.

“We are not closing churches, and we have never closed churches. We are not moving the upcoming election,” Tierney said, declining further comment.

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