CLEVELAND – Today the Ohio Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-OH) endorsed a ballot initiative to modernize Ohio’s elections through a series of reforms including automatic voter registration and same day voter registration. The proposed constitutional amendment would also ensure timely ballots for military and overseas citizens and guarantee 28 days of early voting. Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections filed initial paperwork on January 22 and will be re-filing with the Attorney General’s Office soon. The official campaign launch will occur in the coming weeks.
“The Ohio Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism supports Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections because we believe that the coalition will do crucial work to strengthen voting in our state. Numerous studies have indicated a belief that the American democracy has grown weaker in recent years. By creating more just and accessible elections for all, we can build up our union—of, by, and for the people.” – Rabbi Allison Vann, Suburban Temple – Kol Ami, Beachwood
“The Talmud teaches that “a ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted.” Jewish values call us to demand free and fair elections. But Ohio’s voter registration policies don’t allow for such a process – a fact reflected in our dead last voter participation rank among Midwestern states. The Ohio Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, representing 30 Reform congregations in the state, fully supports Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections in strengthening our democracy.” – Rabbi Lindsey Danziger, RAC-OH Lead Organizer.
The Ohio Chapter of the NAACP and Ohio’s A. Philip Randolph Institute announced their endorsements during the week of January 27. Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections continues to build a non-partisan, broadly representative buckeye coalition with Ohio veterans, faith-based groups, members of the disability rights community, advocacy and legal organizations.
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