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FitzGerald Sends Voting Rights Amendment to County Council
Media contacts:
Rich Luchette, (216) 797-0931
CLEVELAND – Making good on his promise to continue fighting State efforts to restrict voting rights, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald today submitted legislation to the Cuyahoga county Council that would place a charter amendment protecting voting rights on the November ballot. County Councilwoman Sunny Simon (D-11) has co-sponsored the proposal.
"Here in Cuyahoga County, we’re going to keep doing everything we can to protect voting rights for our constituents,” said FitzGerald. “Offering voters the opportunity to approve a charter amendment like this one should be a no brainer. I thank Councilwoman Sunny Simon for co-sponsoring this proposal, and I hope members of both parties on our County Council will support this commonsense effort to protect the franchise in Cuyahoga County."
FitzGerald’s legislation will offer Cuyahoga County voters the opportunity to approve Article XIV to the Cuyahoga County Charter in order to provide that the right to vote is a fundamental right in the County and authorize the County to take action to protect and promote the right to vote. This includes, but is not limited to, the promotion of voter registration and early voting in Cuyahoga County. The amendment proposed by FitzGerald will be placed on the November ballot this year if it is approved by at least eight of the 11 members of the Cuyahoga County Council.
"This amendment will make it clear that Cuyahoga County will always protect its citizens' right to vote," added Councilwoman Simon. "I am proud to help lead this important effort as we stand up for the rights of all voters."
Earlier this year, the Ohio General Assembly passed and Governor John Kasich signed into law three new proposals that would eliminate early voting days, prohibit local boards of elections from sending vote-by-mail ballots to all registered voters, and make it harder to cast valid provisional ballots. In addition, Secretary of State Jon Husted announced he would curtail early voting opportunities on evenings and weekends – a measure that should disproportionately impact working and middle class voters.
Republicans in the General Assembly also attempted to cut Cuyahoga County’s Local Government Fund by 10% if it moved forward with its efforts to protect voting rights. Republicans backed down from this effort after FitzGerald asked the Department of Justice to investigate voter suppression efforts in Ohio.
Last February, FitzGerald pledged to challenge the State’s efforts and introduce a charter amendment to protect voting rights in Cuyahoga County. FitzGerald later signed the Cuyahoga County Voting Rights Law to ensure all registered voters continue to receive vote-by-mail applications regardless of state government restrictions. Today’s announcement further advances this effort.
Click here to read the full text of the legislation submitted to Council
Rich Luchette, (216) 797-0931
CLEVELAND – Making good on his promise to continue fighting State efforts to restrict voting rights, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald today submitted legislation to the Cuyahoga county Council that would place a charter amendment protecting voting rights on the November ballot. County Councilwoman Sunny Simon (D-11) has co-sponsored the proposal.
"Here in Cuyahoga County, we’re going to keep doing everything we can to protect voting rights for our constituents,” said FitzGerald. “Offering voters the opportunity to approve a charter amendment like this one should be a no brainer. I thank Councilwoman Sunny Simon for co-sponsoring this proposal, and I hope members of both parties on our County Council will support this commonsense effort to protect the franchise in Cuyahoga County."
FitzGerald’s legislation will offer Cuyahoga County voters the opportunity to approve Article XIV to the Cuyahoga County Charter in order to provide that the right to vote is a fundamental right in the County and authorize the County to take action to protect and promote the right to vote. This includes, but is not limited to, the promotion of voter registration and early voting in Cuyahoga County. The amendment proposed by FitzGerald will be placed on the November ballot this year if it is approved by at least eight of the 11 members of the Cuyahoga County Council.
"This amendment will make it clear that Cuyahoga County will always protect its citizens' right to vote," added Councilwoman Simon. "I am proud to help lead this important effort as we stand up for the rights of all voters."
Earlier this year, the Ohio General Assembly passed and Governor John Kasich signed into law three new proposals that would eliminate early voting days, prohibit local boards of elections from sending vote-by-mail ballots to all registered voters, and make it harder to cast valid provisional ballots. In addition, Secretary of State Jon Husted announced he would curtail early voting opportunities on evenings and weekends – a measure that should disproportionately impact working and middle class voters.
Republicans in the General Assembly also attempted to cut Cuyahoga County’s Local Government Fund by 10% if it moved forward with its efforts to protect voting rights. Republicans backed down from this effort after FitzGerald asked the Department of Justice to investigate voter suppression efforts in Ohio.
Last February, FitzGerald pledged to challenge the State’s efforts and introduce a charter amendment to protect voting rights in Cuyahoga County. FitzGerald later signed the Cuyahoga County Voting Rights Law to ensure all registered voters continue to receive vote-by-mail applications regardless of state government restrictions. Today’s announcement further advances this effort.
Click here to read the full text of the legislation submitted to Council
