Engaged Democracy

The ACLU of Ohio believes voting is the cornerstone of all other rights—but that foundation is under serious threat. Gerrymandered congressional and legislative maps predetermine outcomes, silence voters, and shield those in power, eroding trust and real democratic choice.

Barriers to voting remain widespread—especially for historically disenfranchised communities and those with limited resources, unstable housing, or disabilities, or who live in rural areas. Suppression tactics like voter roll purges, restrictive registration rules, and harsh voter ID laws disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous people, voters of color, young people, naturalized citizens, and the elderly. These efforts discourage participation and deepen disconnection from civic life. Of serious concern is a downward trend in electoral participation observed in Ohio’s major urban counties where voter turnout decreased significantly between 2020 and 2024.

As civil society norms erode and collective mobilization proves more difficult, building informed, empowered communities of response and resistance is critical to not only resist regressive policies, but to keep Ohioans engaged for the long term.

To reclaim our democracy, we must expand access to democratic processes, reform broken systems, restore trust by combating mis- and dis-information, demand fair voting maps, and importantly, nurture and support a new generation of leaders and advocates who will pick up the torch and carry it further than our wildest dreams.