Happy Independence Day from the League of Women Voters of Ohio

June 16, 2009

Columbus, Ohio -- The League of Women Voters of Ohio, the League of Women Voters of Toledo-Lucas County, and a dozen Ohio citizens reached a historic agreement with the State of Ohio to fix defects in the way Ohio conducts itsfederal elections.

“Ohio voters won a great victory today with the settlement of this case which was about giving all eligible Ohio voters the chance to vote in a fair election and have their votes counted", said Meg G. Flack, president of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. “Careful planning and uniform execution of elections was our goal and we believe this agreement achieves that.”

The agreement, calling for new institutional procedures in the electoral process, settles a lawsuit filed in 2005 that alleged that then Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, Governor Bob Taft, and their predecessors had failed to protect the fundamental rights of eligible Ohio voters to cast a meaningful ballot, as required by the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This landmark agreement is binding on the state to provide for uniformity and consistency in Ohio election procedures so that the opportunity to vote can be enjoyed equally by all Ohio citizens. See the fact sheet on the  LWVO Settlement Agreement here.  To download the full agreement click here.
 

For More Information on the Lawsuit Click Here

Linda D. Lalley, Meg G. Flack, Jennifer Brunner, Peg Rosenfiled and Deidra Reese

On June 18, 2009 the  League of Women Voters of Ohio and the Ohio Redistricting Competition partners announced the results of the successful Ohio Redistricting Competition, a project years in the making. The competition provides concrete proof that Ohio can rely on an open process based on objective criteria to produce fair legislative districts in Ohio.

The competition was first launched in March 2009 by a partnership of organizations and individuals, including Former State Representative Joan Lawrence, The League of Women Voters of Ohio, State Representative Dan Stewart, Professor Richard Gunther - Department of Political Science at The Ohio State University, Ohio Citizen Action, and Common Cause Ohio.

The objective criteria considered in the competition were Compactness, Communities of Interest , Competitiveness and Representational Fairness.

The three winning plans are listed below in no preference of order.

• Plan 1 (USER PLAN 32) Tim Clarke, Attorney, Avon, Ohio.
• Plan 2 (USER PLAN 5B) Stuart Wright, Columbus, Ohio.
• Plan 3 (USER PLAN 80) Mike Fortner, West Chicago, Illinois. Current State Representative (Dist. 95 – R), former mayor of West Chicago

For More information on the contest and plans submitted click here

We believe that . . .

• The responsibility for good government rests on the shoulders of its citizens.
• Empowering new generations of voters will shape better communities.
• Citizenship requires knowledge as well as the ability and will to act.
• Citizen participation in the democratic process builds better government.

We actively . . .

• Empower citizens to seek positive solutions to public policy issues throught education and advocacy.
• Mentor new civic leaders.
• Educate the public on new voting equipment and changes in election law.
• Provide nonpartisan Voter Guides during each election cycle.
• Work for election administration reform in Ohio.
• Conduct studies on government, social and environmental policy.
• Collaborate with coalitions to reform the system and protect our freedoms.
• Mobilize members and voters across Ohio, lobby legislators and influence change.

Complete the form to recieve an email with your log-in information.

You may also call the state office at 1-800-598-6446