AOTL Condemns New Ohio Voter Suppression Bill
For Immediate Release:
May 6, 2021
Contact:
Molly Mitchell
mitchell@redistrictingaction.org
AOTL Condemns New Ohio Voter Suppression Bill
Why is the Response to Record Voter Turnout
Legislation Making it Harder to Vote?
Ohio is the latest state to introduce anti-voter legislation with House Bill 294, a direct assault on the right to vote. This bill further cements Ohio’s long, sordid history with attacking the right to vote and denying adequate political representation. House Bill 294 will cut early voting hours, stiffen voter identification requirements, limit the existing ability of the Secretary of State to prepay postage on election mail, eliminate voters’ ability to cure mail ballots if they mistakenly use the wrong envelope, and will severely limit the usage of ballot drop boxes. The provisions in House Bill 294 will have a disproportionately negative impact on Black and Brown voters, students, low-income Ohioans, people with disabilities, active duty military, and seniors.
“Throughout our country’s history, people have worked and fought to ensure that the right to vote is accessible to all eligible voters. But rather than implementing pro-voter policies that Ohioans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support, some politicians in Columbus - many of whom only hold power because of gerrymandering - are now deliberately putting up discriminatory barriers that make it more difficult for individuals to exercise their most fundamental American right,” said Katy Shanahan, All On The Line (AOTL) Ohio State Director.
“It should be our collective driving purpose to make our democracy more accessible so that every voter has an equitable path to the ballot box. House Bill 294 shamefully does the exact opposite. To move forward together, we need to ensure that Ohioans can not only cast their votes, but also have the freedom to elect leaders who actually represent our interests and who can make the promise of our democracy more real,” Shanahan continued.
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