Voters cast their ballots on Election Day

Newly introduced legislation would block Ohio voters from switching political parties on the day of a primary election. Its sponsor says the bill would thwart "shenanigans" where voters from one party crossover to try to skew primary voting for the other party.

(Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer)

Rep. John Becker

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio voters would no longer be able to switch political parties within 30 days of a primary election under a legislator's proposal meant to thwart "shenanigans."

Under current law, Ohioans don't formally register with a political party and the majority of voters consider themselves as independents. But when they choose a primary ballot, they are automatically affiliated with a party unless they select issues only.

Rep. John Becker, a Southwest Ohio Republican, introduced legislation this week that would allow voters to select a party affiliation when they register to vote or update their registration. And they still could change parties outside of that 30-day window.

Major and minor parties in Ohio would not be allowed to register new members within 30 days of the primary election, either.

"Back in 2008 you had Rush Limbaugh and Operation Chaos and it was chaos," Becker said. "In Clermont County, where I'm from, the board of elections ran out of Democratic ballots."

Becker was referring to an effort in which Limbaugh, a nationally syndicated radio host, urged Republicans to vote for Hillary Clinton, who was challenging Barack Obama in the Democratic primary.

Even if the bill were approved quickly, Becker's proposal would not affect the primary elections this year. If it becomes law, Ohio would be the 12th state to have similar safeguards, he said.

The Limbaugh effort in 2008 was believed to have had an impact on primaries in several states, including Ohio. And Limbaugh has talked of reviving it for 2016.

An investigation in Cuyahoga County after the 2008 primary found more than 17,000 voters who had previously voted in Republican primaries took Democratic ballots. About 3,000 Democratic voters flipped to the Republican side.

Then Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner issued a directive afterward to county boards of elections that if a voter was switching parties, poll workers should make them attest in an affidavit that they indeed intended to change party allegiance.

Husted later rescinded that directive. Poll workers now can question voters only if they have direct personal knowledge the voter is changing affiliation.

"Right now if you show up at a polling place and say you want a Democratic ballot, they're probably just going to hand you a Democratic ballot," Eck said. "No one is going to check your affiliation.