#AdvocacyMatters: Eleven Days
October 23, 2020 / #AdvocacyMatters
In eleven days, America will vote. Not only will ballots be cast for President… we will pick those who represent us as legislators, and we will pick judges to preside over our courts. The decisions we make in eleven days will have an impact for years to come. With so much at stake, it’s critical that every voice is heard and every vote is counted.
Ohio’s voters have a myriad of options to choose a voting method that works for them, but they also face new barriers. This year, it is more important than ever to plan your vote. Some voting methods, like Ohio’s absentee vote-by-mail option, have been around for years. Other ways of voting, such as Ohio’s remote ballot marking tool, have only come into statewide use in the last two years. No matter how you plan to vote, it’s important to know your rights while voting! Earlier this week we outlined a number of these rights on our blog.
If you’re planning to vote absentee – either with a conventional mail-in ballot or Ohio’s ballot marking tool – it’s time to get your request in if you haven’t already. If you’re planning to vote in-person – either on Election Day or early at your Board of Elections – don’t forget that you always have the option to vote curbside.
Mobilizing new voting accessibility methods across thousands of polling sites and more than 50,000 poll workers in all 88 counties leaves plenty of room for problems to arise. For example, the Secretary of State’s office has ordered each county to implement curbside voting at each polling place, in which poll workers bring a ballot to a voter’s vehicle if the voter is unable to get into the location. However, questions remain as to how exactly a voter is supposed to let poll workers know they have arrived. The directive seems to assume the voter would send in someone else to alert poll staff, but what if the voter arrived alone? If you plan to use curbside voting, we recommend you call your county Board of Election ahead of time to find out how you can use this option.
No matter how you plan to vote, arm yourself with knowledge ahead of time. There are sure to be bumps in the road, but don’t let your voice be silenced. DRO will be operating our Voting Hotline on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 614-466-7264. We are here to advocate with you to make this election fair and accessible to all, just as it should be… because #AdvocacyMatters.