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Voter Supression

Volunteer to Protect the Vote!

Are you interested in making sure all eligible voters can cast their ballot and have it counted?  If so, consider coming on Thursday, September 27th to the Friends Theater (2800 Tremont Rd) from 6:30 - 8:30 pm to find out more.

Story Archive - 2012

Stories related to the 2012 Election and other 2012 issues.

2012 Events Archive

Events related to the 2012 Presidential primaries (Republican) and general election campaign (Romney vs. Obama), Congressional and Ohio races, and state and local issues such as Issue 2 (redistricting reform/gerrymandering prevention) and voter suppression in Ohio.

Voter Suppression is Alive and Well in Franklin County

The opposition is getting organized and ruthless in its attempt to suppress the vote in Franklin County. More than 23,000 people in Franklin County have voted early at the in-person Early Voting center in the first three weeks of October. This number surpasses 2008 figures despite the fact that we have had far less voting hours. On Monday and Tuesday alone, over 5,000 people voted early at the Early Voting center on Morse Road and it appears that 8 out of every 10 voters were Democrats. Naturally this has the Republicans worried and they are pulling out the stops to suppress this early vote.

For example, on Monday of this week two huge Romney vans with negative signs set up camp in the middle of the early vote parking lot, taking up parking spots from early voters and creating a negative atmosphere with their divisive signs. This morning Fox News from Chicago arrived to film and presumably create chaos.  In addition, three huge signs were planted along Morse Road today that say "Abortion is Baby Murder" and "Stop Sodom and Gay Mora [sic] Marriage."  The Northland Alliance was called to remove them and they did, but the signs are now being held by Romney volunteers. Be sure to read: "Illegal Campaigning by Romney Supporters Prompts Response by Sheriff at Franklin County Polling Location"

Why is this happening?  Because Republicans want to decrease turnout by changing the perception that voting is easy or a pleasant experience.  They want to increase their early vote turnout. They want to create an incident that either gets volunteers banned from distributing sample ballots or results in a negative story that suppresses the vote. We cannot let this happen.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE EARLY! Our presence at the Early Voting location will help support and reassure other voters who may be fearful or reluctant to even enter the building. We can help these people exercise their right by simply being there, voting and being friendly to all we encounter. Additionally, voting early means you free up space in line on Election Day.

Please look for a blue-shirted volunteer from the Franklin County Democratic Party who is handing out sample ballots. They have been there every hour of every day to talk with voters about the importance of voting for down ticket candidates to give President Obama the support he needs at the local level.

Columbus is considered by many as "ground zero" in determining this presidential election. We may very well be the deciding factor in reelecting our President or handing it over to Romney and his minions. Can you live with yourself if Romney wins?

Click here for directions to the Early Voting Center

Early Voting Hours:

Monday, October 22 - Friday, October 26
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Monday, October 29 - Thursday, November 1
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Friday, November 2
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 3
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 4
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Monday, November 5
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
 

 

In-Precinct Poll Observers Are Needed

With the 2012 General Election less than 60 days away, your help is needed now more than ever. Across the state we have seen Republicans using every voter suppression tactic they can muster -- firing two Montgomery County Board of Elections members who stood up for weekend early voting, challenging hundreds of voters' registrations,  and worst of all, standing with Secretary of State Husted to limit in-person early voting.

I'm Ashamed (of Ohio Voter Suppression)

Letters to the Editor
August 10, 2012

Columbus Dispatch,

In the 2012 Ohio Voter Information Guide Jon Husted says:  “The Secretary of State’s office is committed to ensuring that each Ohioan who is eligible to cast a ballot is able to do so.”

We learned, in the 2004 election, that 5 hour lines at the polls on Election Day kept some of those, who were eligible, from casting their ballot.  That was corrected in 2008 by allowing early in-person voting.

Help Stop Voter Suppression in Ohio

Roughly 30 days from now House Bill 194 is supposed to go into effect. This bill, passed by the Republican controlled Ohio Generalsign Assembly, can seriously impact the Democrats chances of retaining the White House and the Senate seat held by Sherrod Brown.  Issues with the bill:

• It reduces the number of days that mail-in absentee voting can occur before the election from 35 days to 21.

Help Fight Voter Suppression in Ohio!

The Ohio Democratic Party and allied groups are in the beginning stages of an effort to repeal House Bill 194 -- the Republican voter suppression bill -- which makes it harder for Ohioans to vote and makes fewer votes count. In Franklin County, for instance, four out of ten voters would be impacted by House Bill 194.
 
Here's some of what the Republican voter suppression bill does:
1. Dramatically shortens the number of early voting days -- disproportionately impacting working people.

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