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By Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio Election Day, May 8, is less than a week away and we need your help getting the word out about Issue 1. Educate Voters, Increase Turnout for Issue 1 Use this Facebook frame to spread awareness and show support. Print out one of these large posters to put in a car window!  Take part in our Statewide
Honk and Wave to Support Issue 1 Redistricting reformers will be out and about on Thursday, May 3, holding up signs saying, "Honk if you support Redistricting Reform!" etc. We plan to take a ton of photos and blast them out on social media. Alternate date Friday, May 4 if the weather is awful on Thursday. Hashtags for this statewide event are: #Honk4FairDistricts #YesonIssue1 #FairMaps Check out his Event Map to see if there are Honk and Waves or other events planned near you. And if you have one planned, please add your Honk4Fair Districts to the Event Map (at the same link). If you want to help or help connecting with a local group, please send an email to ohiofairdistricts@gmail.com. Check out and share this short video with Republican state Senator Matt Huffman and Democratic state Senator Vernon Sykes! Interested in learning more about Issue 1? Here are some longer videos from recent events: Ohio Ballot Beat: The Bipartisan Congressional Redistricting Reform Amendment Issue 1 Karen Kasler moderated a panel at the City Club of Cleveland which included Ohio Senate President Larry Obhoff, Ohio Senator Minority Leader Kenny Yuko and Catherine Turcer of Common Cause Ohio. What is Issue 1? Catherine Turcer of Common Cause Ohio walks through what gerrymandering is and how it impacts elections and how Issue 1 curbs gerrymandering. Congressional Redistricting Reform Issue 1 Information Session Watch a panel discussion about Issue 1 including Athens County Democratic Chair John Hasley, state Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) and Common Cause Ohio's Catherine Turcer. Recent Editorials Supporting Issue 1: Canton Repository, Yes for Issue 1 for Congressional Redistricting Plan, April 30, 2018 Crain's Cleveland Business, Yes on Issue 1, April 29, 2018 Kent Record-Courier, Issue 1 Deserves Your Vote, April 29, 2018 Recent Op-eds and Letters to the Editor Supporting Issue 1: Cincinnati Enquirer, op-ed, Redistricting Proposal Unites Strange Bedfellows, April 29, 2018 Cleveland.com, op-ed. League of Women Voters Urges Yes on Issue 1 for Ohio Redistricting Reform, April 29, 2018 Dayton Daily News, commentary, Ohio Voters Get to Weigh in on Gerrymandering, April 25, 2018 Thank you for your continued help! We’re almost at the finish line. If you have any suggestions, please send Fair Districts an email or give us a phone call at 614-259-8388.
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 Educate Voters and Increase Voter Turnout for Issue 1 Share this video with your friends to help them understand gerrymandering and urge them to support Issue 1. Use this Facebook frame to spread awareness and show support. Print out one of these large posters to put in a car window! Reach out to voters: Phone bank from home by clicking on this link. Distribute flyers on Election Day! Area leaders across the state are organizing volunteers to distribute flyers at busy polling places on election day. If you want to be connected with a local group organizing for Election Day, May 8, please send an email to ohiofairdistricts@gmail.com. Take part in our Statewide Honk and Wave to Support Issue 1 Pro-Issue 1 activists will be out and about on Thursday, May 3, holding up signs saying, "Honk if you support Redistricting Reform!" etc. We plan to take a ton of photos and blast them out on social media. Alternate date Friday, May 4 if the weather is awful on Thursday. Hashtags for this statewide event are: #Honk4FairDistricts #YesonIssue1 #FairMaps Attend or Host an Issue 1 Watch Party on May 8 Area groups are planning election night watch parties. Check the Event Map to see if there are events planned near you, or plan one yourself! You can add events to the map from that same link. Yard Signs If you're looking for an Issue 1 yard sign, check with the Fair Districts office (ohiofairdistricts@gmail.com, 614-259-8388) or a League of Women Voters chapter near you. Learn More about Issue 1? Come join us at an upcoming event or presentation. Or check out this video from an event in Cincinnati. Thank you for your continued help! We’re almost at the finish line for fair districts!   By Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio
It’s Volunteer Appreciation Week and I would like to let all of the redistricting reformers know how much I appreciate everything that they have done to make Ohio elections fairer. I am incredibly moved by the hard work in rain, shine and sometimes snow. During Pride Festival and Parade I stayed in my office and volunteers picked up and dropped off petitions. Everyone looked hot but Sara Sampson from Columbus actually looked like she would melt. Kayla Sands from Avon Lake spent her short break from school in December and January collecting signatures in her neighborhood in temperatures that were about 15°F. A big thank you to those of you who collected signatures! Special shout out to those super volunteers that went above and beyond the call of duty: Karen Adams, Megan Albaugh, Ronald Baer, Barbara Beardsley, Gayle Butler, Cassandra Casto,Bruce Catalano, Bonnie Cheng, Brenda Clark, Mary Costello, Cynthia Cromwell, Tracy Daugherty, Bill Davis, Jackie Derrow, John Donoghue, Wendy Dyer, Sue Dyke, Kari Eckel, Keith Eggeman, Rebecca Ensworth, Kathleen Estep, Ruth Farthing, Barbara Fleeter, Jamie Friday, John Gatiss, Carol Gay, Joyce Gibbs, Eileen Goldman, William Good, Megan Graff, Jessica Grim, Susan Haas, Leah Hackleman-Good, Janelle Henderson, David Hurwitz, Ann Issacs, Ann Janiak, Carl Janiak, Joan Johnson, Benita Kahn, Jan Kennedy, Jay Ketchaver, Matthew Kuhns, Catherine LaCroix, Valerie Lee, Siobhan Leftwich, Mia Lewis, Carole Lunney, Heather Tuck Macalla, Brooke MacNamara, Peter Maxwell, Aidan McFall, Douglas McGrath, Iris Meltzer, Sarah Mitchell, Adriane Mohlenkamp, Regina Miller, Marjorie Munger, Marcia Oganowski, Peter Ornella, Larry Owen, Charlotte Owens, Jack Petrella, Darcy Predieri, Cathy Presper, Beaker Prince, Christine Przybysz, Daisie Reish, Christine Rom, Sara Sampson, Deb Schelling, Janet Schultz, Joy Schwab, Barbara Sespico, Madeline Shaw, Wenda Jane Sheard, Susan Stromberg, Kathryn Swisher, JanUnderwood, Jennifer Vasarhelyi, Maureen Welch, Jean Wentzel, Cynthia White, Ellen Wurtzel, Andrea Yagoda and Dawn Zarbakhsh. Thank you to all of you who have worked in the office and at home validating! A special shout out to Emily Adams, Sandi Allen, Michael Ahern, Faisa Anjum, Kay Barker, Kim Bean, Barbara Beardsley, Amy Birtcher, Jackie Bird, Marci Bird, Hallie Bourne, Allen Boyd, John Brown, Carl Carnevale, Wanda Carter, Brinda Copsey, Debby Cooper, Laurie Crowther, Mary Curry, Bob Dean, Jessica Dickinson, Michael Disbro, Dee Eisner, Phyllis Elmo, Linda Fedak, Chris Farley, LuCinda Flores, Diana Fowler, Sally Francis, Lynn Friedman, John Gatiss, Cathy Gebauer, Chrys Gee, Blake Getson, Lois Gibbs, Dennis Ginty, Cheryl Grossman, Barbara Grunwell, Susan Haas, Leah Hackleman-Good, Karen Hallberg-Rozdeba, Liz Harmath, Marian Harris, Mindy Hedges, Ann Heffernan, Stacy Jackson, Joan Joanson, John Katko, Adrianna Kenworthy, Rita Kipp, Debbie Krantz, Mardie Largmann, Siobhan Leftwich, Mia Lewis, Blanche Luczyk, Carole Lunney, Bill Lyons, Brittney Madison, Linda MagotoMelanie Majikas, Angela Marvin, Jenny McLaughlin, Jody McRainey, Charles Miles, Katelyn Mowery, Al Navarro, Barb Norris, Charlie O’Keefe, Yorkow Oppon-Acquah, Lauren Orrico, Cathy Presper, Darrel Price, Beaker Prince, Christine Przybysz, Indu Rajan, Judy Rojas, Keith Rosnell, Laura Rushton, Sara Sampson, Deb Schelling, Amanda Sebrosky, John Seikel, Jr., Madeline Shaw, Bob Shelly, Ian Sherman, Karen Sullivan, Katie Swett, Virginia Terry, Rob Thorne, Jake Toothman, Jan Underwood, Sue Wartell, Wendy Winger, Joann Wissler, Andrea Yagoda, Alex Yockey and Kathy Young. A special thank you to Michael Baron for helping organize events and keep social media going! And a shout out to all the creative ways that you all have found to reach out to voters. A big thank you to all the Regional Leaders working hard to organize for Issue 1! Here are just a few helping to lead the way: Richard Asimus, Sheila Coressel, Kathy Deitsch, Sue Dyke, Sue Fiore, Susan Haas, Liz Harmath, Barbara Kaplan, Lauren Karch, Catherine LaCroix, Melanie Majikas, Kathleen McClure, Julie Mulroy, Heather Tuck-Macalla, Soni Vyas-Weit, and Lorraine Wilburn. Many people have been working hard so that together we can slay the Mighty Gerrymander. Many redistricting reformers were not highlighted. Please send an email to ohiofairdistricts@gmail.com if you want us to include a special shout out for a redistricting reformer.  And they're gone!!! Our first batch of yard signs came in and disappeared immediately! The good news is that they are beautiful -- and free! The campaign decided to pick up the cost so no one will be charged for a sign. Of course, a contribution to help cover costs would be greatly appreciated. You can donate here. The second batch will be coming in by the middle of next week. We will send an email notification once they have arrive. For those who are outside of Columbus, we are organizing volunteers to drive the signs to other parts of the state. The wonderful Jackie Bird is going to be coordinating distribution of the signs (along with some kind helpers). You can reach out to her with questions at jackieoep@gmail.com. Thank you, Jackie!
If you are willing to help with distribution from Columbus to other parts of the state, please let Jackie know. Addressing help needed at the office on Monday! We are getting in a batch of "Yes on Issue 1" cards that need to be sent out to voters who have requested absentee ballots. We could use help getting the mailer together next week at Petition Central, 35 E. Gay Street, Suite 404, Columbus 43215. Volunteers who are willing to help, please send an email to ohiofairdistricts@gmail.com. If you or your group wants to help with this project, let us know! We can send or deliver the cards, addresses, envelopes and postage. Phone bank for Issue 1 from home We have set up a way for you to phone bank from home to support Issue 1. If you are interested in helping out that way, watch the tutorial below, then click on the link below to get started. Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTqVYhqDG90 Start Make Calls: https://www.openvpb.com/vpb_bycode/1B8652M-971681 Recent Editorial Endorsements Columbus Dispatch, Yes on Issue 1 for Congressional Redistricting Plan, April 10, 2018 Findlay-Hancock County Courier, 'Yes' on Issue 1, April 10, 2018 Cleveland Plain Dealer, Yes on Issue 1 for Congressional Redistricting Reform in Ohio, April 8, 2018 Lima News, State Issue 1 Brings Fairness to Redistricting, April 7, 2018 A big thank you for your patience as we work to distribute yard signs!  Yard Sign Pick Up Times and Places 1. Downtown Fair Districts office, 35 E Gay Street, Columbus 43215 We are located in Suite 404 and signs are available during regular office hours (9:00am-5:00pm) starting Tuesday, April 10, 2018. 2. Clintonville 437 Piedmont Rd, Columbus, 43214. 4/10 Tues: 7-9pm 4/11 Weds: 7-9pm 429 Piedmont Rd, Columbus, 43214 4/12 Thurs: 10am-noon and 7-9pm 4/13 Fri: 10am-noon and 7-9pm 4/14 Sat: 2-4pm Sunday and later dates also possible. 3. Westerville 671 Old Coach Rd, Westerville 43081 4/12 Thursday: 2-5pm 4/13 Friday: 10am-1pm and 4-7pm 4/14 Sat: 9am-noon 4. Delaware Call Andrea Yagoda at 740-881-5713 and andreayagoda17@gmail.com She is available Monday through Friday from 7:00pm-9:00pm and on the weekends. Far from Columbus? We are working to distribute yard signs across the state. Today is just the first step in distributing these signs. If you have questions, please send an email to ohiofairdistricts@gmail.com. Thank you!  Yard signs will be available from the League of Women Voters of Ohio by April 11. Reserve yard signs today. Issue 1 has now been officially endorsed by both the Ohio Democratic Party and the Ohio Republican Party. I wanted to draw your attention to a line from last Sunday’s op-ed by Former Governors Bob Taft and Ted Strickland: “We both give tremendous credit to the citizens’ groups in Ohio who formed the Fair Districts = Fair Elections coalition after years of frustration with the current mapmaking process. Their efforts to push for a ballot initiative establishing a bipartisan redistricting commission sparked action among Ohio’s elected leaders.” The Primary Election is quickly approaching and two new organizers have joined the Fair Districts = Fair Elections Team. Mia Lewis who has collected more than 3,000 signatures has been hired as Common Cause Ohio’s Campaign Coordinator. She is helping organize the important activities that will help educate voters about Issue 1. Many of you have likely heard from her already. She is working with regional leaders to come up with plans to distribute information about gerrymandering and Issue 1 at events and at the polls. In addition, Michaela Hahn Burriss, formerly of the Small Business Majority, has been hired by Represent.US to organize 24 phone banks around the state of Ohio. Please help me welcome Mia and Michaela and, if you haven’t already please, sign up today to help get the word out about Issue 1. You can also search for and post events related to Issue 1 at this Campaign Event Map. Yard signs will be available from the League of Women Voters of Ohio by April 6. Reserve yard signs today. Got petitions? Please return signed petitions by April 12. The address at Petition Central is: 35 E. Gay St., Suite 404, Columbus, Ohio 43215. We need to have an updated signature count. Gerrymandering took center stage at the US Supreme Court last week. On March 28, the highest court considered a Democratic gerrymander. Maryland officials denied that any gerrymandering occurred. But even if it did, they maintain, the courts should not address gerrymandering because there are no manageable standards for them to use to determine when partisan gerrymandering goes too far. It was not clear from the argument on Wednesday which direction the Supreme Court is heading. Justice Stephen Breyer went so far as to propose that the court should hold another argument not only in the Maryland and Wisconsin partisan-gerrymandering cases, but also in the North Carolina partisan-gerrymandering case that is currently on hold for the first two cases. To learn more about click on this link: Benisek v. Lamone. Reminder: April 9 is the voter registration deadline for the May 8 primary. Verify and update your registration today at myohiovote.com. Do you have questions? Our phone number is 614-259-8388 or send an email to ohiofairdistricts@gmail.com. |