OBERLIN AREA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MEETING HIGHLIGHTS LAWSUIT

Carole Gibson, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, will be the keynote speaker at the first fall meeting of the Oberlin Area League of Women Voters. She will discuss the lawsuit filed on July 28 against the offices of governor and secretary of state. The lawsuit states that these offices have set a pattern of failed election management, chronic under-funding of county boards of elections and inadequate training for poll workers. Ms. Gibson stressed that the problems go far beyond those encountered in the 2004 election, citing thirty years’ worth of repeated and systematic failure within these offices to honor the voting rights of Ohio citizens. The Ohio League is the lead plaintiff within a larger coalition that is involved in the lawsuit. “We simply concluded that a lawsuit is the most effective means of bringing about reform to Ohio’s voting process,” She said. “Election problems have surfaced continually, and the legislature has failed to take comprehensive action with its recent election-reform bill, HB 3. We felt that the courts presented us with a last resort for addressing the shortfalls of our election system.” Her talk, titled “Timing is Everything: Why the LWVO filed a Lawsuit Against the Offices of Secretary of State and Governor,” will cover in greater detail why the state board decided to take this action now. She will also describe the other groups involved, and what the League hopes to accomplish on behalf of Ohio voters. Ms. Gibson will take questions after her presentation. The meeting, to be held at 7 p.m. on September 13 at the Depot, will kick off the League’s season of work on civic and electoral issues. Everyone interested in this topic is welcome to attend.