August 24, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Today, All Voting is Local Ohio, along with the ACLU of Ohio, Common Cause Ohio, League of Women Voters Ohio, and Ohio Voice, sent a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose explaining concerning issues they saw arise during the August 8th special election and suggested remedies to said issues. Every election, the group, which is also known as the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, fields calls and concerns made to the Election Protection Hotline, a resource of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. This August was no exception.
The letter outlined three major issues:
- A significant ballot shortage in Stark County, resulting in voters being turned away from their polling places;
- Problems with curbside voting, including no proper signage, as well as voters with disabilities having to exit their vehicles to stand in line and get the attention of a Precinct Election Official (PEO) to come to the voter’s vehicle to administer a ballot;
- Complications at some churches designated as polling locations, including church leaders pulling down one set of election signs while keeping others, as well as preventing election protection volunteers from being on the premises.
The OVRC made several suggestions to Secretary LaRose which will prevent voters from being severely impacted during the next election in November of this year if adopted. In the letter, the ORVC also asked SOS LaRose to inform them of his plan of action by Tuesday August 29, 2023.
The letter can be read here.