League of Women Voters work to educate Chillicothe on Issue 1

Megan Becker, Chillicothe Gazette
·2 min read
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CHILLICOTHE ― The Chillicothe-Ross League of Women Voters has spent the summer educating citizens about Issue 1 and registering people to vote with the help of the state league executive director.

Issue 1 would require that any proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution acquire a 60% majority vote in favor of the amendment. The special election is taking place on Aug. 8.

Jen Miller, the Executive Director for the League of Women Voters of Ohio, visited the local league on July 14 at Pape City Coffee to discuss Issue 1 prior to the August special election.
Jen Miller, the Executive Director for the League of Women Voters of Ohio, visited the local league on July 14 at Pape City Coffee to discuss Issue 1 prior to the August special election.

State League executive director Jen Miller has been traveling the state to visit Ohio league members, providing assistance and giving away supplies. She said the league is a nonpartisan political organization and "rarely" takes stances on ballot issues or political candidates unless the league believes human rights are at stake. The league is encouraging voters to vote no on Issue 1.

"Never in the history of the state of Ohio have Ohio voters decided such an issue of grave importance in a special election," Miller said. She said the league's goal is to ensure voters know the importance of the election. "It's our job to always ensure that voters know about elections and they know how to participate."

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Local league president Robyn Brewster said the league has spent the summer handing out posters and flyers encouraging people to vote on Aug. 8, visiting farmers markets and other community events to help register citizens to vote and posting on social media to inform the public about the election.

The league encourages voters to visit VOTE411.org, a website launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF), a nonbiased, "one-stop-shop" for election-related information. It provides information on voter registration, absentee ballot information and information on the issues on the ballot.

"Lack of context, that's one of the things that we think is problematic with the language, but if you go on VOTE 411 you get the actual ballot language and then the context in terms of what's changed, as well as pros and cons," Miller said. "It's all about making sure that voters are not tricked into voting their rights away."

Miller said the election is "much more than one issue" and it's important to look at what the results of Issue 1 will affect in future elections.

For more information, visit online or call the Ross County Board of Elections, the League of Women Voters or Vote 411.

Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Ross County League of Women Voters educate Chillicothe on Issue 1