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The Statehouse News Bureau provides educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations.

Ohio GOP Leaders Call For Patience As States Count Votes

Hamilton County election department employees unload ballot boxes from delivery trucks at the Hamilton County Board of Elections, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Norwood, Ohio. [Aaron Doster / AP]
Hamilton County election department employees unload ballot boxes from delivery trucks at the Hamilton County Board of Elections, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Norwood, Ohio. [Aaron Doster / AP]

While Ohio's election results show a big win for President Donald Trump, Buckeye State leaders – including Republicans – are voicing their support for other states as the vote count continues in the presidential race.

Trump spent the day after the election calling on officials to stop counting votes and questioning the legitimacy of mail-in ballots.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) said it's important to let the process in other states play out.

"In this case we're going to have to wait, we're going to have to be patient, President Trump, Vice President Biden are going to have to be patient and they need to be a reassuring force for the country,” Husted said.

The lag in other state's highlights the more efficient system in Ohio where absentee votes are able to be processed and counted right as polls close, said Husted, a former Ohio secretary of state.

"There are legitimate reasons why it's taking them a long time. We shouldn't be as concerned with speed as we are accuracy," Husted said. "We need to make sure that everybody slows down to make sure the count is correct."

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) was also among those calling for people to respect the process.

“Under our Constitution, state legislatures set the rules and states administer our elections. We should respect that process and ensure that all ballots cast in accordance with state laws are counted. It’s that simple,” Portman said in a written statement Wednesday.

States including Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania spent the day after the election continuing to tally the votes. As of Thursday morning, no winner has been declared in the race between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

Copyright 2020 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.