State leaders stress confidence in election system

COLUMBUS — State leaders say Ohioans should have confidence in November’s election results, even though President Trump consistently questions mail-in ballots' legitimacy.

“Ohio has a history of running great elections,” Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said during a news conference Thursday.

Gov. Mike DeWine said the state will count every ballot, no matter how it is cast. That includes mail-in ballots. The governor said as long as they are post marked by the deadline, they will be counted within 10 days of the election.

“We want the people to be able to vote, and their votes to be counted,” Gov. DeWine said.

His remarks came a day after President Donald Trump would not commit to a peaceful transition of power, should he lose.

“Anybody who runs for president wants to win. And they’re going to fight. And they’re going to fight all the way through,” Gov. DeWine said. “Throughout American History, the loser, once it’s determined that you are the loser, concedes. And we move on. That will happen whoever loses this election.”

The governor said the Ohioans who make up the state’s 18 Electoral College votes will vote the way the people did.

“If the campaign, the Trump campaign asked me to work with the legislature to set aside the vote of the people of the State of Ohio, no. That’s not what should happen. No. No. It’s the people’s vote,” Gov. DeWine said.

Lt. Gov. Husted also stressed, Ohio Boards of Elections are set up to be bi-partisan to eliminate election fraud.

Cox Media Group