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Updated 05.07.12
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
Congressional Hearing on HB 194
On Monday, May 7, 2012, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), will hold a congressional hearing
at the Carl B. Stokes United States Court House in Cleveland. This hearing will examine the
impact of HB 194, which restricts early voting, eliminates the requirement that poll workers
direct voters to the proper precinct, and makes it harder to vote absentee. Senator Sherrod
Brown (D-OH) will join Durbin at the hearing and the ACLU will offer testimony on the
negative impact HB 194 would have on Ohio elections.
Click here to read our testimony.
Click here to learn how you can take action!
HB 194: Repeal, Replace, or Both?
In March 2012, Secretary of State Jon Husted began to advocate the repeal of the controversial
HB 194, arguing that it should be scrapped and reexamined after the November 2012 election
with legislation that is more bipartisan. Theoretically, repealing HB 194 would render a voter
referendum unnecessary, though repealing a law that is under voter referendum is constitutionally
unprecedented.
Ohio Republicans have latched onto the repeal plan. Despite Husted’s advice to wait until
after the election before exploring any new legislation, some legislators have suggested they
might try to replace HB 194 with a new voter suppression bill before the November 2012
election. The ACLU of Ohio strongly opposes any additional changes to voting laws before
the presidential election, except to repeal all voter suppression laws that were passed in
2011.
The Ohio General Assembly is currently negotiating the terms of a possible HB 194 repeal.
However, some legislators do not want to restore early in-person voting in the three days
leading up to the election. Early voting was wildly popular among many Ohioans in 2008, when
African-American churches used it to mount “Souls to
the Polls” campaigns bringing congregations to boards of elections to vote.
Referendum on HB 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
If you have been convicted of a crime, you still have the right to vote. Download the PDF.
Read voting rights news releases and articles in our
News Center.
Browse our webcasts for voting rights-related programs:
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