(ONN) – A bill to eliminate Ohio’s four-day grace period for mail-in absentee ballots to be received took another step forward.

The House General Government Committee passed Senate Bill 293 by a vote of 9-4 along party lines with Republicans supporting it.

Currently, ballots can be received by board of elections offices up to four days after the election.

The bill sponsors say 34 states already require absentee ballots to be returned by mail on or before Election Day. Ohio would be the 35th. They say it would bring Ohio in line with federal election law.

Opponents have called the measure a voter suppression bill.

Under this bill, military and overseas voters are exempt and would still get the four-day grace period.

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