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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 PRESIDENT'S DESK.                     November 2023

2023-2024 From Busy Elections to a New Ballot Initiative

 

This has certainly been an exciting and, for the league, busy election season. First, voters defeated the self-serving special August election issue, which would have made changing the Ohio Constitution much more difficult; thereby removing the last remaining tool the public has to reign in the gerrymandered Ohio General Assembly. We worked along with lots of community partners to make sure the issue failed.  

 

Second, the August election result showed itself in the November general election with the passage, by a substantial majority, of the women’s health initiative (Art. I, Sec. 22 The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety), returning abortion in Ohio to its Roe v Wade status and ensuring protections for contraception, miscarriage care, fertility treatment and pregnancy care for women. The League’s role in that effort was to serve as a non-aligned source of vital, true information to refute the misinformation and disinformation surrounding that issue. 

 

In addition, we did all our usual work for elections: providing information to voters through the local voters' guide published on Vote411.org; appearances at meetings and before groups; and registering new and lapsed voters throughout the county at some 40 events and sites. We (you, all of us) were very busy. 

 

Now that those two elections are history, we don’t have time to rest on our laurels. We are part of the Citizens not Politicians Coalition, a coalition of good government groups and concerned citizens determined to take on gerrymandering by adding an amendment to the Ohio Constitution. Passage of the amendment would establish an independent redistricting commission. Think of that!! 

 

To get on the 2024 General Election Ballot, we need to collect well over 400,000 signatures from Ohio voters throughout the state. You are needed! Are you willing? There are training sessions for signature collection both via Zoom and in person, as well as strategy sessions to make sure we are everywhere getting those signatures. Nancy Gurney is taking the league lead on this effort, contact her,  let us know what you are willing to do and sign up for a training session. The petition books are here, as soon as you are trained you can get one or more and start collecting. Here's Nancy’s email voterservices@lwvtoledo-lucascounty.org and phone number 419/702-7040 Remember, this is what democracy is all about.

— Ann Fabiszak Payne, LWV-TLC President

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Strategic Planning Event

August 2023

Sanger Library


REGISTER FOR FAIR DISTRICTS TRAINING
FOR
PETITION DRIVE FOR CITIZENS NOT POLITICIANS

It’s all-hands-on-deck as we prepare to collect signatures to ensure Fair Districts in Ohio. The first step is Zoom training. Nancy Gurney urges everyone to register for one of the following “Petition Circulator” trainings  on November 14 and 30 and then the “Talking Points” session on November 21. Links, dates and times are below. YOU MAY REGISTER BY GOING TO OUR EVENTS CALENDAR FOR EACH DATE OF TRAINING.

PETITION CIRCULATOR TRAINING DATES AVAILABLE NOW

Tuesday, December 12 @ 3pm,  Register here
Wednesday, January 3 @ noon,  register here
Tuesday, January 9 @ 6pm,  register here
Wednesday,
January 17, @ noon,  register here
Tuesday, January 23 @ 6pm,  register here
Tuesday, January @ 10am,  register here

    

There’s also a statewide monthly meeting to keep everyone up-to-date. You can register for that meeting, the second Wednesday at 6 p.m. 

Each month LWV Ohio sends a NEW zoom link for the Huddle.

Please Join the Fair Districts Email List and Receive Zoom Links to Monthly Huddle
.


LINKS TO FAIR DISTRICTS FLYER
CLICK HERE

CITIZENS NOT POLITICIANS

A LETTER FROM LWV-OHIO

Dear Leaguers,

I wanted to share the statement made to the media in support of Citizens Not Politicians, the ballot initiative to end gerrymandering in Ohio.

Much more detail about the campaign (including all those signatures we will need) will be forthcoming in the next few weeks/months. In the meantime, I want to thank all of you for your part in defeating Issue 1 in August and for all that we will do together to finally slay the gerrymander in Ohio. 

 Jen Miller


The League of Women Voters of Ohio strongly supports the Citizens not Politicians Amendment, which will finally deliver fair districts to Ohio voters who have waited too long to see truly representative legislative districts. This amendment will protect Ohioans from politicians and special interests who manipulate voting districts to serve their interests rather than those of the citizens.

Ohio is one of the nation’s most gerrymandered states. In 2015 and 2018, voters in every one of Ohio’s 88 counties approved redistricting reforms that would put an end to unfair representation, but that process was hijacked by self-interested politicians who have repeatedly shown that they will prioritize their political futures over following the Ohio Constitution or serving the people of Ohio.


LWVO has been committed to ending partisan gerrymandering in Ohio for decades, because our government works best when lawmakers are genuinely accountable to the will of the people. We were honored to help collect the first 1000 signatures, and we are committed to seeing this campaign through to the finish line.


It's time to end gerrymandering in Ohio!

Get the Facts on the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment 


The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment will end gerrymandering by empowering citizens, not politicians, to draw fair districts using an open and transparent process. It will: 

  • Create the 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of Democratic, Republican, and Independent citizens who broadly represent the different geographic areas and demographics of the state. 
  • Ban current or former politicians, political party officials, lobbyists, and large political donors from sitting on the Commission.
  • Require fair and impartial districts by making it unconstitutional to draw voting districts that discriminate against or favor any political party or individual politician.
  • Require the commission to operate under an open and independent process. 


JOIN THE FIGHT BY CLICKING HERE



Want to Know What Happened across the Nation in Election 2023?


Visit Ballopedia


Ballotpedia Election Results 2023

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Need a speaker for your organization?


LWV-TLC members will speak at your club or community gathering.  To learn about topics and schedule a presentation contact Sue Runkle.

Speakers Bureau

 


The League of Woman Voters of Toledo-Lucas County is
a member of Northwest Ohio Community Shares

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Toledo, OH 43606-0506


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