FROM OUR CHAIR SEAN PARSONS
After a much needed respite after August 8, we’re starting to gear back up for the fall. There are plenty of issues on the ballot including some local mayoral races. We’ll be planning our fall dinner, hosting or supporting voter registration drives on campus, helping the OU College Dems invigorate their organization, and getting right back at it for reproductive rights in November!
We can’t thank all of our volunteers enough for the amazing amount of work undertaken this summer. If you were an organizer, canvasser, petition circulator, poll worker, or anything else in between, YOU were the reason we were so successful. We hope to take this energy with us all of the way in to November!
See you soon!
Sean
VOTE NO ON ISSUE 1 RECAP
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After months of active campaigning by volunteers, coalitions, unions and political organizations throughout Ohio, Issue I was soundly defeated 57% to 43%. The attempted power grab by Republicans to take away majority rule (50%) for citizen ballot amendments to the Ohio State Constitution was stopped! Democrats, Independents, and Republicans recognized that Issue 1 was political overreach and soundly said no.
In Athens County Issue 1 was defeated 70.67% (9,743 votes) to 29.33% (4.043 votes). This was accomplished through distributing yard signs, writing over 5000 postcards, canvassing, phone banking and active voter registration. Volunteers also called voters who had not returned their absentee ballots. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped! In celebration many of us joined together at the Pigskin on election night – A victory for the people of Ohio!
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION
Now we are back working to pass the Right to Reproductive Freedom and Protections for Health and Safety Amendment which will be on the ballot November 7th. This amendment prevents the State from interfering with individuals’ rights to make and carry out their own reproductive decisions including contraception, fertility treatment, pregnancy care and abortion. Many organizations under the name Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights (Planned parenthood, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Freedom, ACLU among others) are banding together. To donate specifically to this group go to ActBlue — Billions raised online since 2004. The Ohio Democratic Party will once again organize statewide to register voters, educate on the bill through canvassing, phone banking and sending postcards. If you wish to get involved, please reach out to Andrea Reik Andrea Reik. The time is now! We need everyone involved to pass Reproductive Freedom in November and then to jump into the presidential election year! For more information click here https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Right_to_Make_Reproductive_Decisions_Including_Abortion_Initiative_(2023).
There will also be a Recreational Marijuana Initiative on the ballot. See the following link for more information.
https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Marijuana_Legalization_Initiative_(2023).
We’re waiting for final wording and the official literature before promoting either the Reproductive Freedom amendment or the Recreational Marijuana Initiative.
There are two contested races for Major in Athens County this fall. in Athens City and Glouster. More info to come.
INTRODUCTION TO RANK CHOICE VOTING
When you cast your ballot would you like to rank your choices from your top choice to your least preferred? Would you like to cast your ballot without fear of “wasting” your vote on a less popular candidate? With Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) you can genuinely support your favorite candidate while knowing that your second and third-choice preferences will be considered.
This is how it works Instead of voting for just one candidate, you get to rank them from your top choice to your least preferred. If no one candidate receives an outright majority in the first count, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on their second-choice preferences. This process of instant run-offs continues until a candidate secures a majority vote.
RCV is an electoral reform that empowers voters, strengthens democracy, and reflects the important core values that Democrats hold dear. Together we can usher in a new era of democracy where every voice is heard and every vote truly counts. To help bring RCV to Ohio, sign on at rankthevoteohio.org/petition or email Madison Reed and Deontae Brown.
Scroll down to see a graphic map of states already using RCV. Ranked Choice Voting: What, Where, Why & Why Not – The Council of State Governments (csg.org).
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
- September 3 – Litter pick up on St. Rt. 550. 8:30 AM. Contact janalees@gmail.com
- September 4 – Labor Day – Old Settlers Reunion Parade in Jacksonville. Meetup by 10:15 am at Bread of Life Church, corner of Palmer Street and 7th Street. Wear an Athens Dems T-shirt of a blue or white shirt. Parade starts at 11:00. Come early for easier parking.
- September 24 – Sunday – Albany Independent Fair Parade. Meet for line up on Washington Ave at 11:15. You know what to wear. Contact Patrice.
- September 30 – Nelsonville Pride
- October 10 – Last day to register to vote for the November election.
- October 11 – Early voting begins.
- November 7 – Election Day
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Let’s keep up the momentum and come out to the events in Albany, Nelsonville, and Jacksonville. There will also be opportunities to staff tables for voter registration both on campus and in the county. Stay posted.
There are so many people to thank this month. Let’s give a shout out to the following folks!
Athens County Fair
Justin Townley
Gary Goosman (Mayor of Amesville)
Lisa & Lenny Eliason (County Commissioner & Athens City Law Director)
Janalee Stock
Beth Clodfelter
Kristin Jacek
Sheriff Rodney & Brenda Smith
Charlie Adkins (County Commissioner)
Parade of the Hills
Taylor Sappington (Nelsonville City Auditor)
Chris Chimel (Athens City Council person)
And the Paraders!
Boogie on the Bricks
Eva Bloom
Janalee Stock
LuAnn Caughey
Jan Conner
Beth Clodfelter
Roxanne Groff
Shelley Horvath
Dave Stroh
Sean Parson
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
OFFICE UPDATES
The Neighborhood Campaign Committee was established by Dana Carlson, Janalee Stock and Andrea Reik in 2017 under the guidance and support of John Haseley, former County Chair. The goal was to recruit and train volunteers and leaders throughout the county to get out the vote. By 2023 Andrea and Janalee acting as co-chairs managed many statewide, local elections and a presidential campaign during COVID. This has been a fulltime commitment for them and they are ready to reduce their hours. They are reaching out to all of you to see if there is interest in getting more involved in the upcoming presidential year of 2024. If interested in learning more, please contact Sean Parsons at Sean Parsons.
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Community Service Committee – Chair Janalee Stock
As you can imagine the work we do from this corner of our party does feel like a “Party” sometimes. Bounty on the Bricks needed many volunteers and this year the level of leadership and organization from those on the top – especially Eva Bloom- made for a well greased machine! Shout out to all the volunteers and Sean who provided the music throughout the evening.
Come join in more fun picking up litter at St. Rt. 550. Contact Janalee to help out.
Communication Committee – Chair Ashley Sarver
In August, the Communication Committee helped get the word out about the August 8 special election, Thanks to everyone who helped spread the word and Voted No! We also partnered with the OU Dems to help promote their back-to-school fundraiser event at The Pigskin. Thanks to everyone who came out last week to support the college Dems. It’s not too late to donate to their group as they work to grow their membership. https://gofund.me/b03007e4
This upcoming month our focus will be on raising awareness of what’s on the November ballot, promoting fall events and parades, and kick-starting our fall voter registration effort. The deadline to register is October 10, so look for an invitation soon to table on the College Green and elsewhere! We’ll also finalize and launch a new ACDP website with handy information and resources for voters and volunteers.
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR LOCAL PARTY
We thank everyone who has financially supported the ACDP in the past. The fight to defend democracy and turn Ohio blue is far from over. If you have not donated recently to the ACDP, and have the means to do so, please donate today.