COLUMBUS — Two major elections bills sponsored by state Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R., Bowling Green) were consolidated into one piece of legislation and approved by the Ohio House General Government Committee Tuesday.

During its first hearing in the Ohio House after being approved Nov. 6 by the state Senate, Senate Bill 293 picked up language from Senate Bill 153 and is likely headed to the House floor on Wednesday. The bill’s amendments could also be approved Wednesday by the Ohio Senate as state lawmakers push to advance several priority measures ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

S.B. 293 originally focused on requiring most absentee ballots to arrive at the appropriate local board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. Currently, absentee ballots that are mai

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