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FitzGerald Urges State to Stop Efforts to Curtail Voting Rights
Media contacts:
Rich Luchette, (216) 797-0931 or rluchette@cuyahogacounty.us
CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald issued the following statement after the Ohio General Assembly approved two bills (S.B. 205 and S.B. 238) that, in addition to eliminating six days of early voting, would also prohibit local boards of elections from sending out unsolicited absentee ballots. Critically, the bills continue the state's efforts to restrict the home rule powers of local governments by prohibiting them from providing basic services for citizens by mailing absentee ballots, while preserving the right of political candidates with financial resources to mail these applications to select voters:
“It is shameful that certain elected officials in Columbus are making it even harder for men and women across our state to exercise their most basic democratic right - the right to vote. I encourage Governor Kasich to reject these mean-spirited and unnecessary bills. However, if Governor Kasich signs this legislation, I will work with my colleagues on the County Council to explore potential solutions at the local level and will instruct the Cuyahoga County Law Department to pursue any available legal options to protect the voting rights of our county's citizens, as well as the critical rights of self-determination and home rule that our citizens overwhelmingly secured in adopting a county charter in 2009. I encourage my colleagues in other Ohio counties to join this effort.”
Rich Luchette, (216) 797-0931 or rluchette@cuyahogacounty.us
CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald issued the following statement after the Ohio General Assembly approved two bills (S.B. 205 and S.B. 238) that, in addition to eliminating six days of early voting, would also prohibit local boards of elections from sending out unsolicited absentee ballots. Critically, the bills continue the state's efforts to restrict the home rule powers of local governments by prohibiting them from providing basic services for citizens by mailing absentee ballots, while preserving the right of political candidates with financial resources to mail these applications to select voters:
“It is shameful that certain elected officials in Columbus are making it even harder for men and women across our state to exercise their most basic democratic right - the right to vote. I encourage Governor Kasich to reject these mean-spirited and unnecessary bills. However, if Governor Kasich signs this legislation, I will work with my colleagues on the County Council to explore potential solutions at the local level and will instruct the Cuyahoga County Law Department to pursue any available legal options to protect the voting rights of our county's citizens, as well as the critical rights of self-determination and home rule that our citizens overwhelmingly secured in adopting a county charter in 2009. I encourage my colleagues in other Ohio counties to join this effort.”
