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Dec 06 2022

Problems with Sub HB 294 — Ohio’s Anti-Voter Bill

Sub HB 294, legislation currently on the fast track to pass during the post-election “lame duck” legislature, represents a direct attack on Ohioans’ voting rights.

Sub HB294 restricts access to the ballot in several key ways:

  • Cuts time for requesting and returning mail-in ballots.
  • Eliminates the final day of early voting. The final Monday is one of the busiest days of early voting.
  • Restricts the availability and locations of ballot dropboxes
  • Changes ID requirements on absentee form making it 3-tiered and more confusing.
  • Prohibits government agencies from pre-paying the postage on ballots and ballot request forms, even for overseas military voters.
  • Creates a new online absentee ballot request system that’s more restrictive than the paper form, adding two mandatory forms of identification.
  • And, if bill supporters’ claims are true, the bill will be amended tomorrow to include a strict photo ID requirement for in-person voting, something that will disenfranchise tens of thousands of mostly younger, minority and older voters.

Most Ohioans believe that every eligible person should be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote, have equal access to the voting process and should be able to trust the integrity of our elections. Ohioans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support policies that help everyone exercise their right to vote, including:

  • Prepaid postage on absentee ballots and ballot requests
  • Secure ballot drop boxes available throughout each county
  • Multiple early vote centers
  • Mailing all eligible voters an absentee ballot application

Sub HB294 does the opposite and makes voting more unequal and less accessible for many voters. It’s worse than voter suppression; it’s voter selection. This bill makes voting harder for specific groups of Ohioans, including younger and older voters, Black and brown voters and those with limited income.

What Sub HB 294 Does:

  • Cuts early voting hours, removing the last Monday of early voting, one of the busiest voting days.
  • Severely limits the use of ballot drop boxes
  • Limits access to absentee ballots
  • Forces most Ohioans to pay for postage on absentee ballots / ballot request forms. Even military voters.
  • Changes ID requirements on absentee ballot forms, making them three-tiered and more confusing.
  • Makes it much easier to vote in some small counties than in major urban areas by failing to address current proportionality issues (and actually writing some of the issues into law).
    • There would be the same number of drop boxes and early voting locations for a county of 8,000 vs a county of 800,000.
  • Even the pieces of this bill that seem to expand voting options are actually problematic.
    • Example: HB 294 adds an online ballot request option….with such a strict ID requirement that most college students can’t even use it.
  • HB 294 will institute discriminatory barriers that make it harder for certain Ohioans to vote. The bill will disproportionately impact Military personnel, low-income residents, Black and brown Ohioans, College students, people with disabilities, people who are house-insecure, Rural residents and older voters.
  • HB 294 punishes Ohioans for being poor. Don’t have a car? Can’t afford postage? Don’t have two forms of ID? Change addresses frequently? HB294 makes it much harder for you to vote

TAKE ACTION. Tell these lawmakers to kill Sub HB 294.

  • Email Your State Representative
  • Tell Committee Chair Shane Wilkin to stop Sub HB294
    • 614-466-3506
    • Rep91@OhioHouse.gov
    • https://twitter.com/wilkinohio
  • Tell Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp to stop Sub HB294
    • 614-466-9624
    • Rep04@OhioHouse.gov
    • https://twitter.com/SpeakerCupp

MORE INFORMATION

  • READ THE BILL — Ohio House Bill (HB) 294

DONATE to help Innovation Ohio fight this attack on your constitutional rights.

Written by Rachel Coyle · Categorized: 2022 Election, Democracy, Fair and Open Elections, Take Action · Tagged: 2022 Election, democracy, Elections, Ohio Elections, ohio voting, Voting Rights

Nov 04 2022

Toolkit — Lowering Costs for Ohioans

Folder full of graphics that you can download and share on social media!

President Biden’s Affordable Connectivity Program is providing reliable, affordable, broadband internet to Ohio families:

  • Many Ohioans can get $30 off broadband internet plans through Biden’s Affordable Connectivity Program.
  • The Biden Admin also negotiated with internet providers to get new plans that will make many Americans’ internet bills $0
  • Click here for Broadband graphics you can download and share!
  • Over 600,000 Ohio households are already benefiting from affordable, high-speed internet as a result of this program. But over 1.4 million Ohio households are eligible!
    • Learn how to qualify and apply: AffordableConnectivity.gov
    • See if your carrier is offering no-cost internet service: GetInternet.gov

The Biden Admin is Increasing Your Social Security Check:

  • Tens of millions of older Americans are getting the biggest raise of their lifetimes — an average of $140 added to their Social Security checks
  • The Social Security COLA Will Ease the Sting of Inflation
  • Click here for SS COLA graphics you can download and share!

President Biden Lowered the Cost of Hearing Aids:

  • Biden signs executive order lowering cost of hearing aids
  • Cheaper Hearing Aids Now in Stores Thanks to Biden Admin Competition Agenda
  • Biden Move to Let Hearing Aids Be Sold Over-the-Counter is Saving Americans Thousands
  • Click here for affordable hearing aid graphics you can download and share!

President Biden’s CHIPS Act is lowering costs for Ohio by:

  • Speeding up the production of computer chips, which will lower the cost of cars, computers, cell phones, home appliances, medical equipment, and more.
  • Making sure more products are built in America
  • Creating good-paying jobs in our state
  • Improving the supply chain, which will lower costs for your family
  • Click here for CHIPS Act graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the CHIPS Act
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) voted FOR the CHIPS Act
    • Four of Ohio’s Republican House members (Davidson, Jordan, Latta, Wenstrup) voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

President Biden’s Infrastructure Law is improving life in Ohio by:

  • Improving the supply chain, lowering costs for your family
  • Helping refill dangerous potholes in our roads
  • Providing resources to rebuild crumbling bridges
  • Providing access to broadband internet for all American families 
  • Lowering internet costs
  • Creating millions of good-paying jobs
  • Replacing old pipes and delivering clean drinking water to all families
  • Cleaning up brownfield sites and reclaiming abandoned mines
  • Click here for infrastructure law graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the Infrastructure Law
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) voted FOR the Infrastructure Law
    • 11 of Ohio’s 12 Republican House members voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

The Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act is lowering costs for Ohio:

  • CleanEnergy.gov — See how your family can save money through the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act
  • Click here for Inflation Reduction Act graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the Inflation Reduction Act
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) voted FOR the Inflation Reduction Act
    • All of Ohio’s Republican Congress members voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

REMEMBER — Abortion Rights are an economic issue:

  • The most important economic decision a person can make it when, how, and whether to have a family.
  • Abortion is an economic issue
  • At Least 2 More Underage Rape Victims, 2 Pregnant Cancer Patients Denied Abortions in Ohio
  • Abortion rights graphics you can download and share!

Make sure your community knows WHEN and HOW to vote:

  • Reminder: Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th!
  • Ohio Voter Guide (OhioVoterGuide.org) — Nonpartisan. Type your address to see the candidates on your ballot AND information about each candidate!
  • VoteOhio.gov— Official Ohio elections website. Explains the 3 ways to vote in Ohio.
  • Click here for voter information graphics you can download and share!
  • And here are even more downloadable Ohio-specific, memes and gifs!

Stay Connected with Innovation Ohio:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Sign up for Innovation Ohio emails

Written by Rachel Coyle · Categorized: 2022 Election, 2022 Election Hub, Broadband, Children & Families, Economic Development and Jobs, Energy, Healthcare and Human Services, Infrastructure, President Biden, Strong Communities, Winning Agenda

Nov 03 2022

Rachel’s Rural Roadtrip!

Everyone wants to know if progressive values are still around in rural Ohio. Well, we decided to hit the road and find out for ourselves. Innovation Ohio has been working all year to research and compile resources for rural progressives.

You’ve seen the articles, the polling, and the data, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Innovation Ohio staffer Rachel Coyle went on a road trip around the state to learn more about what’s on the hearts and minds of rural voters!

She visited rural counties to experience local culture (and local food!), promote early voting, and hear from members of each community:

meh
make action GIFs like this at MakeaGif

Ohioans in rural counties expressed to us, in their own words, why voting is so vitally important this year:

#Rural Ohio — Janalee has a message for you:

Vote for #WomensRights on (or before) November 8th!

How to vote: https://t.co/NtbB4bh08b
Who's on your ballot: https://t.co/rVha7RdG7D pic.twitter.com/X2ClNPQoru

— Innovation Ohio (@innovationohio) November 3, 2022

Then, we created this rural toolkit.

The toolkit contains facts, articles, and graphics (like the one below) that you can download and share with your own community!

Rural voices and rural votes can shape the future of our state — especially this year.

Early Vote among rural Ohioans is currently outpacing 2018:

Make sure you’re speaking with the rural Ohioans you love. Together, we can lift up the great work being done by President Biden and Democrats in Congress to lower costs and improve quality of life throughout Ohio!

If you live in rural Ohio, we’d love to tell Ohioans why you’re voting this year! Just email a short video (15-30 seconds is perfect) to info@InnovationOhio.org

Written by Rachel Coyle · Categorized: 2022 Election, Broadband, Economic Development and Jobs, Healthcare and Human Services, Infrastructure, Strong Communities, Winning Agenda

Oct 29 2022

Rural Ohio — 2022 Resources

Folder full of graphics that you can download and share on social media!

President Biden’s CHIPS Act is lowering costs for rural Ohio by:

  • Speeding up the production of computer chips, which will lower the cost of cars, computers, cell phones, home appliances, medical equipment, and more
  • Making sure more products are built in America
  • Creating good-paying jobs in our state
  • Improving the supply chain, which will lower costs for your family
  • Click here for CHIPS Act graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the CHIPS Act
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) voted FOR the CHIPS Act
    • Four of Ohio’s Republican House members (Davidson, Jordan, Latta, Wenstrup) voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

President Biden’s Infrastructure Law is improving life in rural Ohio by:

  • Improving the supply chain, lowering costs for your family
  • Helping refill dangerous potholes in our roads
  • Providing resources to rebuild crumbling bridges
  • Providing access to broadband internet for all American families 
  • Lowering internet costs
  • Creating millions of good-paying jobs
  • Replacing old pipes and delivering clean drinking water to all families
  • Cleaning up brownfield sites and reclaiming abandoned mines
  • Click here for infrastructure law graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the Infrastructure Law
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) voted FOR the Infrastructure Law
    • 11 of Ohio’s 12 Republican House members voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

President Biden’s Affordable Connectivity Program is providing reliable, affordable, broadband internet to rural Ohio:

  • Many Ohioans can get $30 off broadband internet plans through Biden’s Affordable Connectivity Program.
  • The Biden Admin also negotiated with internet providers to get new plans that will make many Americans’ internet bills $0
  • Click here for Broadband Internet graphics you can download and share!
  • Over 600,000 Ohio households are already benefiting from affordable, high-speed internet as a result of this program. But over 1.4 million Ohio households are eligible!
    • Learn how to qualify and apply: AffordableConnectivity.gov
    • See if your carrier is offering no-cost internet service: GetInternet.gov

The Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act is lowering costs for rural Ohio:

  • Resource: How the Inflation Reduction Act Helps Rural Communities
  • CleanEnergy.gov — See how your family can save money through the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act
  • Click here for Inflation Reduction Act graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the Inflation Reduction Act
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) voted FOR the Inflation Reduction Act
    • All of Ohio’s Republican Congress members voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

President Biden Lowered the Cost of Hearing Aids:

  • Biden signs executive order lowering cost of hearing aids
  • Cheaper Hearing Aids Now in Stores Thanks to Biden Admin Competition Agenda
  • Biden Move to Let Hearing Aids Be Sold Over-the-Counter is Saving Americans Thousands
  • Click here for affordable hearing aid graphics you can download and share!

The Biden Admin is Increasing Your Social Security Check:

  • Tens of millions of older Americans are getting the biggest raise of their lifetimes — an average of $140 added to their Social Security checks
  • Your ​​Social Security Check is about to get a lot bigger
  • The Social Security COLA Will Ease the Sting of Inflation
  • Click here for SS COLA graphics you can download and share!

Personal Freedoms:

  • Americans should have the freedom to decide when and how to start a family — the government shouldn’t get involved.
  • Abortion is an economic issue
  • At Least 2 More Underage Rape Victims, 2 Pregnant Cancer Patients Denied Abortions in Ohio

Make sure your community knows WHEN and HOW to vote:

  • Reminder: Election Day is November 8th!
  • Ohio Voter Guide (OhioVoterGuide.org) — Nonpartisan. Type your address to see the candidates on your ballot AND information about each candidate!
  • VoteOhio.gov — Official Ohio elections website. Explains the 3 ways to vote in Ohio.
  • Click here for voter information graphics you can download and share!

Additional Resources:

  • How to conduct deep canvassing in rural America. (about immigration and healthcare specifically, but you can adapt it for your own purposes)
  • Change Research “Engaging rural communities of color” slide deck
  • And here are even more downloadable Ohio-specific, memes and gifs!

Stay Connected with Innovation Ohio:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Sign up for Innovation Ohio emails

Written by Rachel Coyle · Categorized: 2022 Election, 2022 Election Hub, Broadband, Children & Families, Economic Development and Jobs, Energy, Infrastructure, President Biden, Strong Communities

Oct 11 2022

2022 Legislative Scorecard: House Representatives

In January of every odd-numbered year, newly-elected lawmakers come to Columbus to convene in a new General Assembly. During the two-year session that follows, hundreds of bills are introduced, many of which are signed into law.

This term, legislators grappled with issues ranging from abortion, guns affordable housing, gender identity and how to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As we approach the end of the two-year session that began in January 2021, we’ve compiled a scorecard to easily see how all 99 House lawmakers voted on the issues that matter most to working Ohioans.

View the Innovation Ohio 2022 House of Representatives Scorecard

Written by 2022 Election Hub · Categorized: 2022 Election, 2022 Election Hub · Tagged: 2022 Election, Scorecard

Jun 30 2022

New Poll: Threat To Abortion Rights Motivating Voters

As part of our ongoing effort to understand the electorate, Innovation Ohio polled Ohio voters about recent leaked news that the US Supreme Court would soon overturn the Roe vs Wade precedent that made the right to an abortion the law of the land and found a growing level of concern and motivation to vote.1

In polls conducted in late April2 and again in early June – before and after the news leaked – we saw significant shifts in the number of voters who ranked abortion care as one of the top issues facing Ohioans. In our June poll, conducted before Friday’s official ruling, 15% of Ohio voters ranked abortion as one of the top 3 issues facing Ohioans, out of a list of 17 possible options. This is up significantly from 8% a month earlier, before rumors about the ruling emerged. Clearly, voters were increasingly focused on threats to abortion rights even before we heard from the court last week.

We also saw that some groups of voters are more tuned into the abortion debate than others. The share of Black voters ranking abortion as a top issue in our poll in June was up by 14% compared to a month earlier. Other groups that showed big jumps in concern included Democrats (up 14%), young voters (up 12%), college voters (up 11%) and women (up 10%). Abortion now ranks as a top 3 concern for Democrats and young voters between the ages of 18 and 34. 

Another key question is whether this increased focus on abortion rights will lead to more urgency to vote in November. When we asked the question in early June, after the rumors surfaced, 58% of Ohioans told us that the rumor made them more motivated to vote in the fall. This was true of 80% of voters identifying as Democrats, compared to 48% of Republicans. 67% of Black voters, 64% of voters with a college degree and 62% of women say the news makes them more motivated to vote, compared to 57% of white voters, 55% of non-college voters and 53% of men, respectively.

Now that the ruling is a reality, we will be conducting additional research to see how attitudes have shifted, if at all.

  1. GrowProgress, 2,018 registered voters, 5/30-6/3, MOE +/- 3%
  2. GrowProgress, 2,000 registered voters, 4/25-4/29, MOE +/- 2.5%

Written by Terra Goodnight · Categorized: 2022 Election, 2022 Election Hub

Jun 09 2022

POLL: Tim Ryan maintains lead over GOP extremist J.D. Vance

As part of Innovation Ohio’s role in supporting Ohio’s progressive infrastructure, we occasionally commission research to equip us and our partners with an understanding of the mood of the electorate and of policy solutions that will best improve the lives of working families. Research is vital to our organization’s ability to connect the dots between activism, advocacy, and policy making. 

Today, we are sharing the results of a new poll of just over 2,000 Ohio registered voters, conducted online from May 30 – June 3 on the GrowProgress platform, on the state of the race for US Senate and voter enthusiasm about the election. In it, we find that Democrat Tim Ryan has built on his pre-primary edge over J.D. Vance and now leads the race by 3 points, 44%-41%. 

Conducted a month after our last poll and the conclusion of the GOP primary, the poll shows Republican voters remain reluctant to throw their support behind extremist J.D. Vance. Vance’s support among Republicans sits at 79%, while Ryan secures 91% of Democrats. 14% of Ohio Republicans remain undecided.

– Innovation Ohio President Desiree Tims

Now that the GOP primary is settled with DeWine and Vance at the top of the ticket, our two polls also show that Republicans have lost the motivation advantage. While Republicans were slightly more likely than Democrats to report they were “extremely” or “very” motivated to vote in November, that share dropped by 8 points after the conclusion of the primary, and now stands at 80%. Voter motivation among Democratic voters remains unchanged at 87%.

The poll also shows Ryan holding substantial leads among women, black voters, younger voters (ages 18-54) and those with a college degree. Vance, meanwhile, maintains an edge among white voters, those ages 55 and up and non-college voters. Tim Ryan once down by double digits among independent voters now finds himself only trailing by 1%.

Full results:

“Congressman Ryan is on a roll and J.D. Vance has failed to connect with Ohioans,” said Innovation Ohio President Desiree Tims. “While Ryan finds ways to earn votes from key demographics, Vance’s extremist campaign isn’t doing himself or his campaign any favors, even among the Republican base. Ohio voters are done with extremist politicians like J.D. Vance,” Tims continues. “Ohioans want to live in a progressive state with proven leaders who can deliver. The right wing extremist agenda voids us of such opportunity.”

GrowProgress surveyed 2018 Ohio registered voters on May 30 through June 3. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3%.

Written by Nick Tuell · Categorized: 2022 Election, 2022 Election Hub

Jun 01 2022

Poll Finds Democrat Ryan Leading U.S. Senate Race

Contact: goodnight@innovationohio.org

Columbus, OH – A new poll from Innovation Ohio and GrowProgress shows that in the race for US Senate, Congressman Tim Ryan, the newly-minted Democratic nominee, is leading his Republican rival, venture capitalist JD Vance 43-41. 

A memo on the results can be found on Innovation Ohio’s website.

The poll also found that in a state Trump won twice, Vance still lacks the support of more than 1 in 5 members of his own party. A bruising primary and a history of changing political positions – particularly his views on former President Trump – leave Vance with the support of just 78% of Republicans. Ryan, by contrast, picks up 91% of Democrats.

“As the race heads into the General Election, Tim Ryan is showing signs of strength and momentum against J.D. Vance.” said Innovation Ohio President Desiree Tims. “In a state where Trump won twice, Vance has yet to capture similar levels of support.”

“This race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the country,” Tims continued.

The poll showed Ryan holding substantial leads among women, black voters, younger voters (18-54) and those with a college degree. Vance, meanwhile, maintains an edge among white voters, those ages 55 and up and non-college voters.

These findings showing Vance’s weakness within his own party are consistent with new analysis by six political scientists that measured how GOP primary voters felt about different political figures. In the JD Vance received a rating of 59 out of 100 on a political “thermometer” scale measuring candidate favorability, compared to a score of 75 for Trump. Overall, the GOP is not as unified as Democrats heading into the General Election.

Founded in 2011, Innovation Ohio is a nonpartisan, nonprofit thank tank that blends policy research and advocacy to fight for working families in Ohio.

Grow Progress surveyed 2000 Ohio voters on April 25th through April 29th, just days before the primary.  The survey’s margin of error is +/-2.5%.

Written by Nick Tuell · Categorized: 2022 Election, 2022 Election Hub, Front Page, Press Releases · Tagged: 2022 Election, Desiree Tims, grow progress, J.D. Vance, Ohio, Ohio Senate, poll, polling, press release, Tim Ryan

Apr 01 2022

LaRose’s Support for Impeachment of Ohio Chief Justice is Unacceptable

Today, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, released the following statement condemning Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s commentsindicating he would support a Republican effort to impeach Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor over her redistricting rulings:

“Ohio’s top elections official supports impeaching Ohio’s top Supreme Court justice because he disagrees with her.

“A founding principle of this nation is to function and prosper as three co-equal branches of government. Somewhere, somehow, Republicans are losing sight of that ideal.

“If Republicans impeach the Chief Justice of Ohio’s Supreme Court for ruling against her own political party, it would be the end of checks and balances in Ohio.

“Every respectable Republican politician needs to condemn Frank LaRose’s comments immediately.”

Click here for a list of phone numbers and email addresses for Secretary of State Frank LaRose and his top staff.

Written by Desiree Tims · Categorized: 2022 Election, Democracy, Equal Districts, Fair and Open Elections, Press Releases

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