Every time I think I can't get more cynical about Republicans, they shock me. This time, it's in Ohio. Afraid of an abortion rights measure that advocates have been working hard to qualify for the November ballot, Ohio Republicans have called for an August special election.
Why? They want to pass a ballot measure that would make it more difficult to pass future ballot measures. In other words, they want to make it more difficult for Ohio citizens to defend, assert, and define their rights.
But it gets even worse. August special elections have notoriously low turnout; experts predict that this one could have as few as 8% of voters showing up. Ohio Republicans want to make this election an exclusive party to change the rules on how Buckeye State residents protect their rights at the ballot box.
And because Ohio's Republican secretary of state has purged voters from the state rolls (sometimes mistakenly), thousands of voters could show up on Aug. 8—only to find out that they are not eligible to participate in this oh-so-important election.
It’s crucial to reach enough Ohio voters before the July 10 deadline to register to vote, so Daily Kos is teaming up with Blue Wave Postcards to help reach these voters.
Click to order Blue Wave Postcards to help Ohio voters fight for abortion rights. They only have until July 10th to register to vote, so you must order the postcards this week.
Can't volunteer? Chip in $5 today to help Daily Kos get out the Democratic vote in Ohio and other states for 2023 and 2024. The work to fight MAGA Republicans starts now.
If you haven't heard about Ohio's special election, here's a short recap:
After victories in Kansas, Michigan, and Kentucky, abortion rights advocates in Ohio have been working hard to qualify a measure protecting abortion rights for the November 2023 ballot. Even in a red state like Ohio, this can absolutely pass. As Reuters noted when the special election was scheduled in May, “the proposed abortion amendment has gotten about 60% support in Ohio-based opinion polls.”
In retaliation—and to protect a 2019 six-week ban currently being litigated—Ohio Republicans in the state Legislature have scheduled an August special election to pass a ballot measure that would require future initiative constitutional amendments to pass with a 60% supermajority, rather than the current 50%-plus-one vote.
We have seen this tactic deployed in other red states when voters override Republican lawmakers on issues like Medicaid expansion—so the politicians declare war on ballot initiatives. But as Daily Kos’ Stephen Wolf explained in March:
Sometimes, though, the strongest tool available is simply spreading awareness. Voters generally dislike attempts to curtail their power, as evidenced by their recent rejection of restrictions on the initiative process in several states. The Republican war on ballot initiatives thrives in darkness. The more light that is shined on it, the weaker it grows.
But Ohio voters don’t just need to know about this August special election. We need to reach them before the July 10 deadline to register to vote, in case they have been purged from the rolls and need to re-register.
We don't have much time, and that’s where Blue Wave Postcards comes in.
Blue Wave Postcards is a volunteer effort launched by Colorado activists who sent over 2.6 million postcards to battleground states during the 2020 election cycle. The postcards are colorful and attractive, and include effective messaging to convince voters to cast ballots.
With Blue Wave Postcards, simply order online to get postcards for Ohio voters (they’re about a dime each). Blue Wave will mail you the postcards starting June 19. You write them and then drop them in the mailbox for Ohio voters to receive in time to check their registration status and act (if necessary) before the July 10 deadline.
Because we need voters to receive the postcards by July 10, we are asking volunteers to sign up this week. Click here to volunteer with Blue Wave Postcards to participate.
Can't volunteer? Chip in $5 today to help Daily Kos get out the Democratic vote in Ohio and other states for 2023 and 2024. The work to fight MAGA Republicans starts now.