elections

04.09.18

Our Position on State Issue 1 – FAQ

By Mike Brickner

The ACLU of Ohio neither supports nor opposes Issue 1. As discussed below, although Issue 1 has some features that could improve redistricting in our state, we believe that it does not provide comprehensive reform and could open the door for future partisan manipulation.

08.09.17

Cleveland Mayoral and City Council Candidates Must Prioritize Police Reform

By Emma Keeshin

With so many candidates for Cleveland mayor and City Council this year, it can be hard to keep track of all of them. But something you must keep track of is their commitment to police reform in Cleveland.

That’s because Cleveland is in year two of a multi-year police reform process, known as the consent decree, which is overseen by a federal judge after the U.S.

05.11.17

What is the real voter fraud, Mr. President?

By Mike Brickner

Following the November 2016 election, President Trump and his administration made claims that simply should not go unanswered, both because they are patently false and they pose a grave threat to our most cherished right to vote. The administration has repeatedly claimed that 3-5 million people illegally voted in that election, and have now launched a national investigation to look into it.

04.26.17

Don’t Wait Four Years to Vote

By James Kosmatka

While many Americans may feel that they are left out of the political process, 45 percent of adults did not even vote in the 2016 presidential election. The number of adults that will not cast a ballot in non-presidential elections is even higher (63.6% in 2014).

11.18.16

The Way Forward

By James Kosmatka

Let’s be honest. The election of Donald Trump as president felt like a kick in the gut to many supporters of the ACLU of Ohio. The size of Trump’s victory in the Buckeye State—eight percentage points—was especially disheartening for those who defend the rights of people whom our next president attacked: people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, and others.

10.12.16

Voting While Trans: Tips for a Successful Election Day

By James Kosmatka

People who identify as transgender or gender nonconforming (GNC) are expected to clarify, justify and apologize for their identity every day. For many, inappropriate personal questions are a daily reality.  It’s no surprise then, to hear that these same dehumanizing hurdles have worked their way into our polling places.

10.03.16

Don’t Get it Twisted—A Conviction Cannot Stop You from Voting

By Katrice Williams

The ACLU of Ohio held a voting rights tele-town hall meeting on Tuesday, September 27 as part of National Voter Registration Day.

Our town hall meeting was moderated by activist and media personality Basheer Jones, and featured panelists Crystal Bryant, co-director and partner at Cleveland VOTES, and Katrice Williams, policy associate at the ACLU of Ohio.

09.27.16

Voter purges: It’s not about the dead people

By Mike Brickner

Last week, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a serious blow to Ohio’s illegal and unfair practice of removing voters from the rolls simply because they have not voted for a few federal elections. The ACLU of Ohio and Demos challenged this process in court, and the Sixth Circuit Court decided that it violated federal law and must stop immediately.

09.23.16

Don’t be Fooled, Presidential Debates only Show a Sliver

By Katrice Williams

The first 2016 American presidential debate is sure to spark angst and ire from the two major political parties. Both sides are eager to prove why the other is uninformed, unqualified and unfit for the presidency, vilifying large swaths of Americans.

08.26.16

Who’s Really Eligible to Vote?

By Katrice Williams

Many Americans believe a felony or other criminal conviction prevents you from voting. In reality, it depends on the state.

The patchwork of state laws feeds the myth that people with criminal records cannot vote. This lack of consistency in state laws makes it confusing for returning citizens.

08.12.16

Voting Local Has A Big Impact On Issues You Care About

By Katrice Williams

The last days of July marked the end to both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, where Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have risen as their parties’ presidential nominees for November’s general election.

But limiting November’s general election to just the presidential race is short-sighted, especially given the open seats in the U.S.

08.02.16

Voter Suppression Undermines Democracy

By Katrice Williams

Voting is a sacred American value. It gives each citizen their say in a government “of the people, by the people, for the people” While we may not agree on values or even the means to achieve shared objectives, we can agree that every eligible voter deserves unimpeded access to the ballot.

03.16.16

Whose Side Are You On? ACLU and Free Speech: Part I

By Maria Bruno

As an employee of the ACLU, sometimes talking about my job can be a challenge.  Those who have heard of the ACLU tend to associate us with “crazy liberals,” defending the KKK, or being anti-Christian.  These are not the easiest associations to shed.

02.08.16

It’s 2016 and everybody’s watching. Get registered Ohio.

By Chris Geggie

Even though our state plays such a huge role in determining the direction of one of the most powerful countries in the world, voters remain disengaged, especially in primary elections. According to data from the Ohio Secretary of State, the average voter turnout in primary elections since 1986 is about 28.55 percent.

01.04.16

Ohio is Often the Spotlight for Elections

By Lisa Wurm

Diana Mairose is a voting rights advocate who works as an Advocacy Support Advisor for Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services.

Ohio is often the spotlight on Election Day, and this year was no different. Hamilton County, in particular, gained much statewide attention—not because of hotly contested local races or ballot issues, but because of a glitch in new technology at the polls.

09.23.15

What Does It Mean to Vote Free of Barriers?

By Adrienne Gavula

All polling locations must be physically accessible for people with disabilities, and each polling location must have one accessible voting machine. But does accessibility only mean technology and brick and mortar?

Time to Change Attitudes

When we think about barriers for voters with disabilities, we often think of physical barriers, but there are people barriers, too.

03.28.15

March Madness (or Not Registering to Vote)

By Adrienne Gavula

Time and time again voters profess their wavering loyalty to the ballot and only show up in large numbers for presidential elections. Many people will pay more attention to the hustle and bustle of collegiate sports this month than the excitement of local politics, but this is when the real change occurs.

02.20.15

Ohio Votes: Real Versus Imagined Problems

By Shakyra Diaz

There are those who operate under the theory that if something is said long enough and loud enough it becomes reality.

The more cynical among us believe it doesn’t matter if the something said is true or not, so long as people believe it is.