The League of Women Voters of Ohio is conducting a statewide roadshow aimed at registering student voters and getting them excited about democracy. The roadshow, featuring a 19-foot Airstream Caravel emblazoned with the motto “Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Power.”, has already made stops at about 20 colleges and universities. The effort has resulted in more than 5,000 voter contacts and indirect outreach to thousands more. The League is urging students to register to vote before the Oct. 7 deadline, as early, in-person voting in Ohio begins on Oct. 8, the day after the registration cutoff.
The voter registration efforts come amid heightened scrutiny of Ohio’s election processes by Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose. LaRose has taken steps to remove inactive and out-of-date voter registrations, root out noncitizen registrations, and ensure that only the voter can drop their ballot in a drop box. These efforts have sparked controversy, with voting rights groups arguing that they unfairly restrict assistance to voters with disabilities. LaRose has defended his actions as necessary to address a “crisis of confidence” among voters following the 2020 election, which former President Donald Trump falsely claimed he lost.
The League of Women Voters, in partnership with other advocacy groups, is working to provide neutral, nonpartisan voter information, distribute absentee ballot forms, and register students to vote during its roadshow tour. The tour will continue with stops at Ohio University, Youngstown State, and Kent State in the coming days. The Ohio Democratic Party has criticized LaRose’s efforts, accusing him of trying to make voting as difficult as possible for Ohioans. Despite these challenges, voter advocacy groups are seeing “unprecedented momentum” in their outreach efforts, with the Organizing for Ohio Coordinated Campaign reporting outreach to more than 1 million voters.
A federal judge recently ruled on a lawsuit challenging Ohio’s election law, upholding key provisions of the law that impose strict photo ID requirements, limit drop box locations, and tighten deadlines for absentee and provisional ballots. The League of Women Voters and other advocacy groups continue to work to educate voters and ensure strong voter turnout in the upcoming presidential election. With the drive to register student voters and engage them in the democratic process, efforts are being made to counteract voter suppression tactics and empower all Ohioans to exercise their right to vote. As the Nov. 5 election approaches, the focus remains on providing access to voting and ensuring that every voice is heard in the democratic process.
