LWV Views
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Redistricting Reform: Carol Gibson Within the past weeks we have seen why we must reform our redistricting process. Politicians drew new congressional and state legislative districts behind closed doors for political advantage, to be unveiled only days before they were adopted. Public input was ignored and the only input which was truly considered came from other politicians. Public Testimony before the Ohio Apportionment Board: Ohio Senate and House Redistricting Redistricting is an issue that goes to the heart of our democratic system of government because representative democracy depends on voters choosing their elected officials. When, instead, officials choose their voters by creating districts that strongly favor one political party, our system does not work as intended. ACTION ALERT: LWV Ohio Board Votes to Support HB194 Referendum LWV Ohio supports the referendum based on national League positions to protect the right of all citizens to vote; to encourage all citizens to vote; and to facilitate citizens' participation in government decision-making. Attached is a copy of the referendum as well as a document outlining frequently asked questions. The petition effort was undertaken by Fair Elections Ohio and is backed by a coalition of state legislators, voting rights advocates, progressive groups and others. The petitioners have until September 29th to gather the requisite petitions - over 231,000. If the petition effort is successful, the law will be stayed until after the election in November of 2012. Although the League typically makes a decision about whether to support a statewide referendum only after it gets on the ballot, in this instance the board concluded that because the issue of voters' rights is so crucial to the League's mission, the League should support the petition drive
Good morning. I am Carol Gibson, Co-President of the Cuyahoga Area League of Women Voters. I appreciate the opportunity to give public comment this morning on the important subject of absentee ballots. The League believes it's in the best interest of the voters to send out absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in the county as soon as possible. This action would reduce confusion by retaining the present practice of mailing applications to all voters before it might be forbidden by state law at the end of September.
Proposed photo ID bill erects barriers to voting for the poor, elderly and disabled If the myth of voter fraud at the polling place is repeated often enough and loudly enough, people start to believe it. And so it is in the Ohio legislature with the myth that Ohio needs to require draconian voter identification at the polls to prevent voter impersonation. But proponents of the restrictive measures in the photo ID bill, Substitute House Bill 159, have not pointed to evidence of voter fraud in Ohio by impersonation at the polling place.
How the League Takes Action According to the policy of the League of Women Voters, "Action is our League effort to bring about governmental change based on the positions we derive through member study and consensus." Leagues can utilize their local positions, as well as state and national positions, to effectively lobby at the local level by: The local, state or national League may ask its members to contact officials, elected and appointed.
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