The two year operating budget will move next year鈥檚 presidential primary to St. Patrick鈥檚 Day. Republicans had to move it to after March 15 so they could award all delegates to a single candidate.
Republicans aren鈥檛 expected to have a competitive presidential primary, but Democrats are. They had complained St. Patrick鈥檚 Day parades and activities could create problems in finding poll workers and make voting difficult in some areas.
Senate Finance Chair Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) said 28 days of absentee voting covers the last part.
鈥淣o, I don't," Dolan said when asked if he thinks Democrats had a point in their concerns. "If between the hours of 6:30 to 7:30 at night on St. Patrick鈥檚 Day, if you feel the festivities will keep you from a poll, you have multiple opportunities to vote. I don鈥檛 鈥� it鈥檚 a non-issue."
Dolan notes Ohioans will vote on the same day as people in Arizona, Florida and Illinois 鈥� where Chicago hosts major St. Patrick鈥檚 Day celebrations.
And why not move it later? Dolan said moving the primary to a week later would have made candidates鈥� paperwork due on Christmas Eve.
