Written in collaboration with the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition
Civic engagement doesn’t begin and end at the ballot box. While voting is a critical part of making your voice heard, the work isn’t over after the first Tuesday in November. Whether that involves engaging in activism, advocacy, education, or something else, Antoinette Asimus from the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition provided a list of suggestions for keeping civically engaged after the election.
Join a local organization
Asimus recommended several groups that center around voting and voters rights:
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League of Women Voters - Cincinnati Area
- Ohio Voter Rights Coalition
- Common Cause Ohio
- All On The Line is the grassroots advocacy campaign supported by the National Redistricting Action Fund to end gerrymandering.
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The Matriots, who use the tagline When Women Lead, Ohio Prospers.
Engage in legislative advocacy for voting rights
Observe, give testimony, and advocate at the Statehouse when it reconvenes in November for legislation on issues such as:
- Number of drop boxes per county
- Make it possible for voters to apply online for absentee ballots
- Non-partisan redistricting reform to end gerrymandering. This is coming up in 2021 and 2022.
- Automatic voter registration through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- Change legislation curtailing ballot initiatives which are the way citizens have a direct voice in democracy
- Carefully monitor purging of voter rolls
Advocate for specific reforms that allow democracy to advance
Listen to what’s going on nationally and how it can impact people locally. Some of these issues are already in the news and are likely to receive more attention after the Nov. 3 election.
Then advocate for non-partisan democratic reforms such as:
- Stop the gridlock in the Senate – the big issue here is the filibuster. Learn about how it benefits, and how it disadvantages, democracy.
- Remain in compliance with the Constitution to make the Senate and the House more representative of the U.S. population
- Modernize the Supreme Court, again in compliance with the Constitution
- Stop voter suppression wherever it occurs
- Expand access to voting for eligible citizens
- Reform the media. Support local media and advocate for oversight and regulations of monopolies and conglomerates.
Advocacy on a local level can also come in the form of joining your neighborhood community council, tuning into City Council meetings and participating in public comment, and getting involved with local organizations that advocate around issues that are important to you.
Self-Educate
Here are a few of Asimus’ favorite related titles, available at the Library:
Learn more about the Library's non-partisan voter resources on our website.
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