ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio
Keeping America Safe and Free

Voting Rights

Updated 05.26.09

The right to vote has been called the “vital principle of self-government and individual liberty.” When you register to vote and participate in elections, you play a critical role in preserving our democracy.

What’s happening in Ohio


Election Reform

The ACLU of Ohio monitors state and local government for any changes to election policy, including voting systems.

In April 2008, the ACLU of Ohio released a report detailing problems that occurred during the March 2008 primary election, along with recommended remedies.

In September 2007, the ACLU of Ohio released a report on systemic Ohio election problems from 2004-present.  The report urged the Secretary of State and Boards of Elections to address these concerns prior to the 2008 election.  Read the press release and list of recommendations.


Litigation

Read about voting rights lawsuits filed by the ACLU in Ohio .


What’s Happening Nationally

In June 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a pair of cases upholding the constitutionality of voter ID requirements: Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, No. 07-21 (an ACLU case) and Indiana Democratic Party v. Rokita, No. 07-25. Read more about these cases.

Get Active!
 

  • Register to vote and participate in elections. The Secretary of State oversees the election process in each of Ohio's 88 counties.
  • Democracy needs an operator! Become a poll worker. Elections cannot be held without poll workers. You are eligible if you are a registered voter, are available for training sessions, and can work on Election Day. Compensation is available. Please contact your local board of elections for details.
  • Young people can be poll workers too. Ohio law allows 17-year-old high school seniors to serve as poll workers. The ACLU of Ohio encourages young people to get active!

    Information for students
    Information for teachers

    Read  Staff Attorney Carrie Davis' April 22, 2008 testimony in support of student poll workers before the Ohio Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee.
  • Host an ACLU Freedom Files voting rights party. Invite your friends and neighbors to view a Freedom Files episode about voting rights and learn about elections in Ohio. We supply the material, you supply the get-together. To learn more about the ACLU TV series, click here. For help setting up a party, send an email to the ACLU office.
     

Resources

Ohio Secretary of State's website

Cuyahoga Election Review Panel Final Report, July 20, 2006

Our Voter Empowerment Card gives you all the information you need to make sure your vote counts.

Can Homeowner’s Associations Regulate Political Speech?

Voter information from League of Women Voters of Ohio

Voting rights updates across the country from the national ACLU

Election reform and voting rights blog by Dan Tokaji, ACLU of Ohio board member, volunteer attorney, and voting rights advocate

Information and insight on the laws governing federal, state, and local elections from Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law

Read From Registration to Recounts: The Election Ecosystems of Five Midwestern States, published by Election Law @ Moritz.

While Ohio restores voting rights to people convicted of felonies, many states do not, garnering international condemnation. Read Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Also see the ACLU report Race & Ethnicity in America: Turning a Blind Eye to Injustice.

Read voting rights press releases and news articles in our News Center.