Ohio Ballot Board Aug 16 meeting will set language on Citizens Not Politicians
The Ohio Ballot board will give the redistricting reform amendment Citizens Not Politicians an Issue number and decide the language that will appear on the November ballot at their meeting August 16 at 11 a.m. Please go if you can! The location is the North Hearing Room of the Senate Office Building in the Ohio Statehouse. If you are not able to be there in person, the meeting will be broadcast live on the Ohio Channel.
The Ohio Council of Churches and our Diocesan Council have endorsed this redistricting reform amendment which was certified in July after a massive grassroots signature collection campaign.
Citizens Not Politicians would provide safeguards and guidelines to prevent future partisan gerrymandering, starting with prohibiting elected officials and lobbyists from serving on the Redistricting Commission. “Let’s pack the room!” writes Mia Lewis of Fair Districts Ohio. “We want the Ballot Board members to know that citizens are paying attention.”
Four of the five members of the Ohio Ballot Board are current elected officials, including Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who was part of the Redistricting Committee that approved seven different sets of legislative maps which were found unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court for violating the Ohio Constitution’s rules by giving excessive partisan advantage.
Supporters of last year’s reproductive rights amendment protested the wording the Ballot Board wrote, including the description “the proposed amendment would always allow an unborn child to be aborted at any stage of pregnancy, regardless of viability if, in the treating physician’s determination, the abortion is necessary to protect the pregnant woman’s life or health.” Drafted by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, an outspoken opponent of abortion rights, the ballot language, also omitted to mention that the amendment protects other reproductive rights including contraception, miscarriage care, and fertility treatment. The supporters of the amendment petitioned unsuccessfully for the full text of the amendment to be used instead. 56.8% of Ohio voters approved the amendment last November.
Interfaith resources on faithful voting
Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) held a webinar Aug. 8 presenting multiple resources for faith leaders to draw on in encouraging voters to participate. IPL is dedicated to environmental stewardship, but the resources are valuable for anyone seeking to put their commitment to compassion and justice into action.
Here is the link to the webinar, “Voting: a Matter of Faith – Preaching on the Importance of Voting.” IPL has also posted a multi-issue Faithful Voter Reflection Guide, which you can download for free in English or Spanish. That link includes a recording of a July 23 IPL webinar on the Guide. IPL is partnering with Ballot Ready, which you can use as a one-stop resource for your congregation to find out if they are registered at their current address, who and what is on their ballot, when and where to vote in-person, and how to get an absentee ballot. You can get a unique QR code to share with your congregation by signing up at this link.
Here are the resources recommended by the two Christian panelists in “Voting, a Matter of Faith.” The Rev. Moya Harris of Sojourners directs us to:
- Become a poll chaplain to protect the vote with Faiths United to Save Democracy
- The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of the Teachings of Jesus and How They Have Been Corrupted, by Obery Hendricks
- They Like to Never Quit Praisin’ God: the Role of Celebration in Preaching, by Dr. Frank A. Thomas
Franciscan priest Father Jacek Orzechowski recommends:
- Georgetown University’s “A Misinformation Expert’s Top Tips to Slow the Spread of Misleading Information in the 2024 Election“
Franciscan Action Network‘s call for poll chaplains and poll workers - Earth’s Cry, Humanity’s Call: A Symposium on Integral Ecology, at Siena College, Oct. 10-11 (livestream offered)
Upcoming forum: U. S. Supreme Court: Judicial Ethics and Recusal
Hosted by the Ohio Fair Courts Alliance and Common Cause Ohio, a virtual forum on August 15 at 7 p.m. will feature experts who will delve into the pressing need for robust judicial ethics and meaningful reform for the United States’ highest court. They will explain ethics rules, explore the consequences of recent gifts, the potential conflicts of interest that presents, and the refusal on the part of the justices to recuse themselves when such situations arise. The panelists are Gabe Roth, Executive Director, Fix the Courts, and Lisa Graves, founder and Executive Director, True North Research. The forum is co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of Ohio, the ACLU of Ohio, and the Ohio Environmental Council. Register here.
HB 68 restricting gender-affirming care for minors upheld in ruling
On Aug. 6, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas issued a ruling in the ACLU’s lawsuit (Moe et al. v. Yost et al.). The court ruled in favor of the State. This means that effective immediately, the “Saving Adolescents from Experimentation” Act (also known as HB68) goes into effect. The Act restricts all gender-affirming care for minors (under the age of 18) in the State of Ohio. Children who had begun care may continue their care plans, but may NOT change those plans. HB 68 restricts transgender girls and women from competing in women’s sports at all levels, including at private educational institutions. You can find the ACLU of Ohio’s statement here.
Advocacy updates are compiled by Ariel Miller, a longtime community advocate and member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming. Connect with her at arielmillerwriter@gmail.com.
