Chop Wood, Carry Ohio 4/19 🚜

Help stop an anti-democracy move in Ohio!

Hi, all!

Long time no talk! Hope you’re well.

I’m amplifying an action for Blue Ohio—I hope you can help, whether or not you physically live in the state. Because the Ohio GOP is once again trying to trample on their constituents’ rights.

We already know that a majority of Ohioans support abortion access.

Which means that a referendum to enshrine the freedom to choose into Ohio’s Constitution would gain more than 50% of the vote, negating the abortion ban the Ohio GOP passed. Such a referendum is now moving forward.

So the GOP is hard at work trying to change the Ohio Constitution in advance of that referendum to require a 60% vote by citizens for any future referenda to succeed.

They’re so desperate, they’re trying to ram their change through in an August referendum after they themselves eliminated August elections earlier this year, claiming they were a waste of money and not democratic because so few people vote in August.

But now that they NEED an undemocratic election to lock an undemocratic restriction into Ohio’s constitution, they’re eager to change Ohio law again to bring back August elections for their referendum.

The good news is that these anti-democratic measures can be stopped. One failed last November in Arkansas. But making noise right now is critical. 

Please, if you live in Ohio, call your GOP State Rep to urge a No Vote — find your state rep here. If you don’t live in OH but know anyone who does please forward them this email and ask them to make the call. ☎️ ☎️

Also please call Speaker Jason Stephens — 614-466-1366 — and Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz — 614-466-8258 …so that they too know that Ohioans oppose this power grab.

The script can be as simple as:

Hi my name is _____ and I’m an Ohio resident from [zip]. I’m calling because I hear the legislature is voting soon on whether they should schedule an August election to change the Constitution to make ballot measures harder to pass. I strongly oppose this anti-democratic move and will be watching the vote closely. Please don’t try to block the will of your constituents or we will vote you out. Thanks.

Phone shy? You can either a) leave a voicemail after hours—just make sure you give your full name and address—or send the above as a note via your representative’s Contact Me form (on their official website).

This is important—please spread the word!

Thanks!

Jess