Ohioans Must Stay Vigilant Against Extremists Trying to 'Kneecap' Voting Rights
According to Rev. Michael Harrison, for many Ohioans, 2022 was a year of struggle and prayer — and he knows because he prayed a lot during the year.
He prayed for his congregation and his community in Youngstown, where too many people spent the holiday season without sufficient food and shelter.
He prayed for our country, our state, and our families, so that Ohioans of every color, creed, and background can come together to create a better and safer place to live. And lately, he prayed a lot for our freedoms.
The freedom to worship is one of the most deeply-held in our state Constitution and one that as a pastor, Rev. Harrison is grateful for every single day. But an attack on one of our freedoms is an attack on all of them, and that’s why all Ohioans need to be concerned about the passage of HB 294 that makes it more difficult to vote and the proposal, HJR 6 that makes it harder to initiate for citizen-led ballot measures.
During the “Lame Duck” legislative session in December, HJR 6 was stopped but Republicans in the General Assembly did pass HB 294 which undermines our voting rights by limiting access to ballot drop boxes, creating confusing voter-ID requirements, eliminating early voting the Monday before Election Day, and shortening the absentee ballot request period.