Upper Arlington's state representative is pressing Ohio's top elections official to fight a federal rule that could delay absentee ballots weeks before the Nov. 3 election.

State Rep. Allison Russo, the House Minority Leader, joined three colleagues in a letter sent Sept. 9, to Secretary of State Frank LaRose urging him to oppose a recently finalized U.S. Postal Service rule. The rule stems from Executive Order 14399, which President Trump signed March 31 and titled "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections."

State Reps. Juanita Brent of Cleveland, Ashley Bryant Bailey of Cincinnati and Eric Synenberg of Beachwood co-signed the letter.

What the rule would require

The USPS rule would force election officials to upload each voter's name, address and unique barcodes to a new federal portal before mailing ballots. It would also require USPS-approved envelope designs and additional verification by postal workers before ballots could be accepted for delivery.

The lawmakers cited an affidavit from Tammy Patrick, chief program officer for the National Association of Election Officials, warning that the requirements cannot reasonably be implemented before the November election. Patrick's affidavit noted that a mailing containing even one noncompliant ballot piece could result in the rejection of the entire mailing.

The letter also cited a USPS whistleblower report alleging the system needed to carry out the rule has not been properly designed or tested.

Why it matters in Upper Arlington

More than 800,000 Ohioans voted by mail in the 2024 election, according to the letter. The Nov. 3 ballot in Upper Arlington carries Issue 7, a combined $273.5 million bond issue and 4.9-mill operating levy for Upper Arlington Schools. As we reported Sept. 9, the district's spending already outpaces its revenue heading into the vote.

The representatives warned that any disruption to ballot delivery could disproportionately affect military voters, older Ohioans and voters temporarily outside the state. In their letter, the lawmakers said Ohio election officials should not have to overhaul established procedures weeks before Election Day to comply with a rushed federal mandate.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction Sept. 4, blocking the USPS from enforcing key parts of the rule through the Nov. 3 election, according to the League of Women Voters. The Trump administration filed a new application with the U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 6, seeking to put that injunction on hold, SCOTUSblog reported. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson directed challengers to respond by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The Supreme Court's decision is pending.

Political context

Russo is also the Democratic candidate for secretary of state in the Nov. 3 election, making LaRose her likely opponent in that race. LaRose's office has not publicly responded to the letter.

Russo has pushed for expanded mail-ballot access before. In March, when introducing separate legislation to add absentee ballot drop boxes at every polling place, she said, "Free and fair elections depend on more than just the right to vote … They depend on the ability to exercise that right without barriers."

Key dates for UA voters

Military and overseas ballots begin going out Friday, Sept. 18. Absentee ballots for all other voters follow Oct. 6. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 27. Completed ballots must arrive at the county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, according to the Columbus Dispatch.