Now more than ever, we must come together for fair and reasonable thinking at all levels of government and make sure that voters have power and not the politicians.
Let’s consider our current state of affairs in Ohio:
- The ballot language that voters are seeing at the polls that describes Issue 1 is factually inaccurate and intentionally deceptive and does not reflect the actual amendment to Ohio’s constitution. The reality? Voting yes will ban politicians and lobbyists from Ohio’s legislative redistricting process, create a citizen-led commission to draw the lines instead, and ban partisan gerrymandering (district maps that favor one political party over others). Voting yes will keep the politicians from creating their own districts.
- Despite a decisive vote last year by 57 percent of Ohio voters that enshrined reproductive freedom in the state constitution, Ohio’s state legislature has failed to overturn restrictive laws that ban abortion bans and insult women.
- Disabled voters no longer have the same access to voting as everyone else because Frank LaRose made a rule that caregivers can’t deliver their absentee ballots via dropbox.
- Much of the taxes we pay to support public schools goes to private school vouchers. This diversion of funds is especially detrimental to rural schools.
- An Ohio Supreme Court justice who was hand-selected by the governor despite having no judicial experience has chosen to run against his colleague, a sitting justice, instead of running for the open seat on the Court.
Creating fair districts so that voters choose their politicians, instead of the other way around, will go a long way to ensure laws are enacted that represent what Ohioans want. However, until that representation improves, important cases about fundamental freedoms like keeping laws off women’s bodies, voting rights, gerrymandering and school funding – will continue to rise to the court system for resolution. We need to be able to rely on our Ohio Supreme Court to be the ultimate, objective voice of reason, ensuring the rule of law is enforced and protected.
On November 5 we have the opportunity to ensure that happens by reelecting Justices Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly, and electing Judge Lisa Forbes.
Sincerely,
Patty Lawrence
Chair, Clermont County Democratic Party
This Letter to the Editor appeared in the Clermont Sun’s October 25 Voter Guide.
See more on our website: Democratic candidates on the ballot and how to vote in Clermont County.
