Empowering Voters: Understanding Campaign Financing, Fair Districting, and Poll Participation

Brett and Carol chat with Jen Miller, the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters Ohio, about the nitty-gritty of ballot issues and voting policies.

Jen talks about a cool bipartisan effort to draft a new amendment (Issue 1), mentioning notable figures like Maureen O'Connor and Yvette McGee Brown. This amendment has some serious backing from a wide range of groups, including teachers' and nurses' unions, the NAACP, and even the Libertarian Party.

The conversation takes a turn towards the topic of dark money in politics, which became a hot issue after the Citizens United decision. Jen underscores the need for transparency so voters know who’s funding political ads. She’s passionate about ending gerrymandering, believing it would make legislatures more responsive and improve policymaking. Gerrymandering, she argues, kills voter satisfaction and participation.

More engagement and compromise in the legislature would tone down extremism and serve citizens better. Jen encourages everyone to get involved in democracy, pointing to resources like vote411.org and voteohio.gov. She also talks about the importance of becoming poll workers and making sure our communities are ready to vote.

Jen criticizes gerrymandering for reducing accountability and allowing representatives to focus more on party extremes and big donors rather than a broader voter base. Despite these obstacles, she urges citizens to stay vocal and visit district offices.

The League of Women Voters Ohio is highlighted as a diverse organization in terms of age, offering great opportunities for mentorship between older and younger members. Jen gives tips on making voting less intimidating for young voters, like checking registration and polling locations since these frequently change.

We talk about Ohio’s strict voter ID requirements—now including passports and specific veteran IDs while excluding county veteran IDs. Jen calls for veterans to advocate for changes to these laws. There's also a mention of fewer candidates participating in forums, which reduces chances for voter-candidate interactions. The League organizes forums with a “speed dating” style to let voters meet candidates without heated debates.

Jen and Brett discuss the rise of misinformation and the need for consuming diverse media to keep from getting stuck in echo chambers. Brett expresses frustration when candidates don't take forum questions seriously, feeling it reflects poorly on their ability to serve in office. They both mention the impact of gerrymandering on these issues.

In Ohio, recent changes to the election process have led to voter dissatisfaction, partly fueled by misinformation from elected officials. Jen suggests voters hold state authorities like the Secretary of State accountable for election integrity. She also lists ways to engage, like attending hearings, contacting election boards, volunteering as poll workers, and using the Election Protection Hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) for any issues.

The League of Women Voters is all about fair election practices and doesn't play sides. They've been around since the Ohio Women's Suffrage Association days, focusing on empowering voters, especially women. They operate on national, state, and local levels and rely heavily on volunteers to keep things running smoothly.

Jen emphasizes the importance of informed voting and spells out the steps for absentee/mail voters, urging them not to procrastinate. Tips include mailing ballots early and using county dropboxes to avoid delays. She also goes over Ohio's strict ID requirements again, stressing that voters need to check what’s valid now.

Jen dives deeper into gerrymandering, explaining Issue 1 (OH), which aims to reform the redistricting process. The goal is to keep politicians and lobbyists out, ensure a balanced commission, and maintain transparency. Past efforts to end gerrymandering in Ohio didn’t pan out well, but the League is committed to pushing for fair district maps and getting citizens involved.

While the voting system isn't perfect, continuous efforts and active participation can lead to better outcomes for everyone.

Key Moments

00:00 Ohio Women's Suffrage evolved into inclusive voting league.

05:39 Ohio League's strength lies in national connection.

15:38 Frustration arises from misallocated responsibilities and misunderstanding.

17:24 Connecting voters and candidates through local forums.

26:41 Gerrymandering undermines fair elections and representation.

32:04 Check ID requirements; Ohio's strict voter rules.

36:27 Security ensures bipartisan participation and de-escalation volunteers.

40:46 Check voting plan, ID required, hours change.

52:12 Independent voices in Ohio redistricting, preventing secrecy.

57:27 League watchdogs educate public on map processes.

01:03:57 Advocate for transparency, end gerrymandering, promote solutions.

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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

Copyright 2024 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson

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