Public Policy Advocates

Former Speaker of the Ohio House and current State Senator Jon Husted’s voter registration was cancelled by the Montgomery County Board of Elections at the direction of Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. Questions about Mr. Husted’s residency have been raised in the past, and the Montgomery County Board of Elections were split in their ruling on the most recent challenge to his residency, 2-2. It has been alleged that Mr. Husted resides in the Columbus area, despite representing Ohio’s 6th Senate District, which consists of Dayton suburbs.

When a county Board of Elections can not settle a residency challenge, the tie-breaking vote falls to the Ohio Secretary of State. In this case, Secretary Brunner ruled that Mr. Husted does not reside at the address at which he is registered to vote, in Kettering. Mr. Husted has admitted that his wife owns a house in the Columbus area and that he stays there with his family “when he is in Franklin County on public business.” However, he maintains that his primary residence is in Kettering.

In response to the Secretary of State’s finding, Mr. Husted said he would immediately appeal the decision to the court system, saying, “During this dispute Jennifer Brunner failed to follow the law and exceeded her authority [...] Since I could not get a fair resolution from Jennifer Brunner, I will file a legal action and ask for the courts to decide the matter so that I can exercise my right to vote in the November elections.”