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Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

The League of Women Voters®, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to
increase understanding of major policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy


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FROM THE PRESIDENTS DESK

December 2024


Happy Holidays to all! As we enter a new year, voting in Ohio may get much easier or much more difficult. A decision by the Ohio Supreme Court has paved the way for signature-gathering to get the proposed “Ohio Voters Bill of Rights” (formerly “Secure and Fair Elections”) constitutional amendment before the voters of Ohio. The proposed amendment is a citizen-sponsored initiative which would affirm voting as a constitutional right in Ohio and significantly reform current voting practices throughout the state. However, a politician-sponsored bill is pending which would significantly negatively impact the vote by requiring proof of citizenship in order to vote. 

The Ohio Voters Bill of Rights was first proposed in 2020 as “Secure and Fair Elections” but derailed by the Covid pandemic. The title was changed after the Ohio Attorney General challenged it as “misleading”. The Attorney General also declared the new title as “highly misleading and misrepresentative” but relented after a review of the issue by the Ohio Supreme Court. There has not been much publicity of the proposal, in part because it was feared that it would be linked with and jeopardize the Citizens Not Politicians amendment which was not passed last November. 

The Ohio Bill of Rights would significantly expand and reform voting practices by reversing the mandates of HB 458 which was passed by the legislature last year, by extending early voting, providing for automatic voter registration and updates through the BMV, allowing multiple early voting and drop-box locations, no-excuse absentee voting, ensuring that polling places are accessible to all, protecting against voter intimidation and broadening the forms of identification permissible to vote. 

On the other hand, politicians have proposed legislation which would require proof of citizenship in order to vote. Studies have concluded that such a requirement would significantly adversely impact voting by marginalized communities. In fact, most voters do not have a birth certificate or other evidence of citizenship readily at hand to produce at the polls.

Also newsworthy, the Ohio Attorney General has appealed a decision declaring the provisions of the six (6) week abortion ban law in an attempt to preserve the provisions which require a waiting period, two (2) visits to a physician and other impediments to obtaining an abortion in Ohio. However, a law has been introduced which would remove these provisions. Finally, our local and state advocacy positions will be reviewed and, if necessary, revised for the upcoming years at our January and February membership meetings. The input of all of our members is valued and it is hoped that all of our members can attend and contribute to this most important task.

There is also pending in the legislature a bill which would prohibit rank order voting in Ohio, a topic covered last month in our Hot Button Topics program. LWVO has taken a position on this issue and asks that we write our legislators to vote against this bill. 

Finally, it is not too late to contribute your tax-deductible donation to the local League. With our democracy under attack, it is more important than ever that we have the funds to fight back. We are very grateful to those who have already donated. Rest assured that we will put those dollars to good use in fulfilling our mission. 

Rosemarie Barciz, Co-President

Bonnie Bishop, Co-President

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