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TAKE ACTION TO STRENGTHEN OHIO'S DEMOCRACY
TELL YOUR OHIO SENATOR & SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE: PROTECT INDEPENDENT
CAMPAIGN OVERSIGHT
Buried in the Ohio House version of the state budget bill is a dangerous amendment that would eliminate the Ohio Elections Commission, the independent body responsible for enforcing state campaign finance laws. The Ohio Elections Commission includes Democratic, Republican, and independent or unaffiliated members.
This amendment would put enforcement duties into the hands of the Ohio Secretary of State and county Boards of Elections, offices not designed or resourced to independently police campaign finance violations.
Why this is alarming:
- Puts state level politicians in charge of investigating state level politicians: Allowing elected officials and their allies to oversee violations of the rules that govern their own campaigns sets up a system ripe for favoritism and selective enforcement.
- Forces unfunded mandates on Boards of Elections: Requiring Ohio’s already overburdened election officials to investigate and adjudicate possible local campaign violations adds serious responsibilities without providing any new resources to support them.
The budget now goes to the Ohio Senate Finance Committee, and they need to hear from us.
Voters deserve accountability from our elected officials, and taking oversight away from the independent Ohio Elections Commission is an invitation to corruption and misuse of government authority.
TAKE ACTION TO STRENGTHEN OHIO'S DEMOCRACY
Thank you for taking the time to act! Right now, there are no General Assembly members associated with your address. This could mean you are not an Ohio resident, or that you have newly elected members in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, which has not yet updated their new member contacts. If it is the latter, please try again in a few days. Please reach out to Elisabeth Warner with any questions at [email protected].
Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to stand up for independent campaign finance oversight!
Want to keep going? Call your Ohio Senator and urge them to protect election independence! Go here to find your Ohio State senator, and here for the names and contact members of the Ohio Senate Finance Committee, who are debating the budget Ohioans will have for the next two years.
Here are some tips for effective communication with our lawmakers.
- Have a clear and concise message: Write or speak briefly about the issue and finish with your ask ("vote no/yes on x", "increase funding for x", "create legislation that will x"). If you are communicating about a specific bill, be sure to provide the bill number and sponsor. Elected officials and their staff are often dealing with a high volume of calls, so a focused message makes it easier for them to understand and respond to.
- Use the message you just sent as a script: Adapt it to make it shorter or more personal, or read it as-is.
- Personalize your message: Why is this important to you? What is your connection to the issue? Make it a story so you stand out.
- Identify yourself as a constituent: Most lawmakers will immediately disregard someone who is outside of their district, so be sure to let them know you are a potential voter.
- Why phone calls? Person-to-person communication is the most effective. They show effort and passion, and give you and the legislator (or their staff) the chance for an actual conversation.
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