CLEVELAND—The ACLU of Ohio, TransOhio, Equality Ohio, the Human Rights Campaign, the League of Women Voters, and Ohio Voice will provide educational materials to all boards of elections with guidelines on how to interact with transgender voters. The organizations hope the information will be included in poll worker training sessions and available for elections officials to refer to throughout Election Day. This simple, one-page document or, “tip sheet” will advise poll workers on how to respectfully interact with transgender and gender non-conforming (GNC) people at the polls. “We want everyone to feel safe, comfortable, and accepted when they go cast their ballots,” said Jocelyn Rosnick, Assistant Policy Director at the ACLU of Ohio. “Increasing poll worker education on transgender and gender non-conforming people helps remove barriers at the polls.”

This educational resource will not affect the voting process but will help prevent discrimination or simple miscommunication at the polls. “Voting is a key part of our great democracy, and transgender people should be able to have their voices heard on important issues,” said Jacob Nash, TransAction Committee Member for the ACLU of Ohio. “Everyone has the right to vote regardless of their gender identity.” Everyone should be able to assert their right to vote in a non-threatening environment. We urge all boards of elections in Ohio to review this tip sheet to ensure that both poll workers and transgender voters have a positive experience on Election Day.

Read the poll worker tip sheet below.

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