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Voting Rights

Updated 02.02.12 - The 2012 Ohio primary election will be held March 6, 2012.

  • The deadline to register for the primary is February 6, 2012.
  • Early and absentee voting for the primary begins January 31, 2012.
  • Election day is March 6, 2012.

Protect Your Vote! Check out the ACLU of Ohio's vote center here.
Have you been convicted of a crime? You still have the right to vote.

The right to vote has been called the “vital principle of self-government and individual liberty.” When you register to vote and participate in elections, you play a critical role in preserving our democracy.

What’s happening in Ohio


Referendum on H.B. 194
In September 2011, the ACLU of Ohio joined voting rights advocates, state legislators, and labor unions to support a referendum on Ohio House Bill 194, which would severely limit early voting, prohibit poll workers from assisting voters completing forms, and make it more difficult for local boards of elections to promote early voting to all registered voters.

Secretary of State Husted certified the referendum on December 9, 2011. This means H.B. 194 will not be in effect through the November 2012 election, where voters will decide if it should be rejected.


Access to the ballot by minor parties is an important function of democracy. Read the August 2011 Columbus Dispatch article: Libertarian Party sues over minor party access limits in new law.


Ohio Legislature Limits Voting Access with Changes to Absentee and Early Voting
On June 29, 2011, the Ohio legislature passed House Bill 194, legislation which makes a variety of misguided changes to Ohio’s voting system. The short lines and uncomplicated voting process during 2008’s record voting turnout will be replaced by long waits, confused voters, and a glut of provisional ballots. Provisions of the new legislation include:

  • Drastically cutting the timeframe for early in-person voting to 16 days from 35 days;
  • Preventing counties from mailing absentee ballot applications to residents; and
  • Eliminating the requirement for poll workers to help voters find their right precinct.

During a session on July 13, 2011, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill that corrects one of H.B. 194’s flaws. The bill eliminates the requirement for voters to provide their full Social Security number in order to vote a provisional ballot. Unfortunately, the bill also eliminates online registration and the voter’s ability to present an ID at their local Board of Election before the polls close, if they didn’t have it while voting.

Read testimony in opposition to these measures here.


Voter ID Restrictions Would Limit Voter Rights
Thanks to the efforts of activists and advocacy groups, the Ohio General Assembly has not yet passed House Bill 159. However, the OGA will continue to debate the bill, which would be the most restrictive in the country. Under the new law, Ohioans could only vote with one of the following IDs:

  • Ohio driver’s license,
  • Ohio state ID card,
  • Military photo ID, or
  • U.S. Passport.

H.B. 159 could deny the right to vote to thousands who do not have the limited identification accepted and would disproportionately affect low-income, disabled, racial and ethnic minorities, college students, and elderly. The measure has even been opposed by Republican Secretary of State John Husted, who recognized that it is unnecessary and costly. Click here for one real life example.


Participating in Elections
The Secretary of State oversees the election process in each of Ohio's 88 counties, and registration is required to vote. Information about registering and voting is available here.

Ohioans can also participate in elections by becoming poll workers, and high school seniors who are at least 17 years old can be excused from school for one day to work the polls. For more information, contact the local board of elections.


Litigation
Read about voting rights lawsuits filed by the ACLU in Ohio in 2006 and 2008.


Resources

Check out our Publications page for for more resources on voting rights.

ACLU Voting Rights Project, News and resources about voting across the U.S.

Can a convicted felon run for office?, ACLU of Ohio

Election Law at Moritz, Information and insight on the laws governing federal, state, and local elections

Ex-offenders Guide to Voting Rights, Voting Rights Institute

Fact Sheet for Political Speech and Homeowner’s Associations, ACLU of Ohio

League of Women Voters of Ohio, Information about voting, candidates, and ballot issues

Ohio Voter Empowerment Card, ACLU of Ohio
Click here for 2-up layout (two-sided, two cards per sheet)
View a web version of the card

Redistricting Information, ACLU of Ohio

Read voting rights news releases and articles in our News Center.

Browse our webcasts for voting rights-related programs:
Audio webcasts
Video webcasts