Ohio secretary of state candidate advocates voting

Sara Macho

Colin Beach wants to get Ohioans voting, especially younger ones.

The 26-year-old candidate for Ohio secretary of state spoke to the College Republicans last night about issues including voter fraud, ambiguous political language and voter-education programs.

Matt White, president of the College Republicans, said Beach is traveling across the state asking for voter support.

Beach’s next stop is the Defiance County Republican Barbecue in Defiance, Ohio.

Beach, a Dayton native, said he has always been interested in politics.

“Politics make my life more fulfilling because I feel like I am affecting peoples’ lives,” he said.

Beach would like to see voter fraud, which is currently a misdemeanor, upgraded to a fifth degree felony.

He also wants to work with legislation to clear up any unclear language.

“Many times, voters don’t know what they’re voting on,” Beach said. “The language is wordy and lengthy.”

If elected, Beach said he will work with local election boards to send out pamphlets outlining voting issues.

These pamphlets are aimed at decongesting the voting polls, so the process can run more smoothly.

Beach said he feels passionately about getting college students involved in political processes.

“Students don’t realize their impact,” he said. “They don’t realize the influence they have on their communities.”

Contact student politics reporter Sara Macho at [email protected].