To the editor:
Heads up, Athens Countians! We have a down-home example of bipartisan cooperation and excellent service to citizens! That is our Athens County Board of Elections (BOE). As a member of the League of Women Voters of Athens County, I have had the chance to work with and observe the board and staff of our BOE. They are meticulous — and legitimately proud — to ensure that every eligible vote counts, and that every eligible voter is welcomed into the process.
Congress’s SAVE Act and Ohio’s Senate Bill 153 and House Bill 233 — currently being considered by our legislature — impose draconian and unnecessary restrictions on our voting experience. They also dump layers of frivolous and unfunded busy work on clerks across the nation and our BOE staff. The Athens County BOE has a stellar reputation for secure and accurate elections. These bills are clearly part of a larger effort to depress voter turnout and participation, especially with their requirement to prove citizenship by providing a birth certificate or passport upon registering to vote. This regulation alone will likely impact hundreds of thousands of voters in our state, possibly even more, and prevent them from voting. Please contact your representatives in the Ohio legislature and tell them that we need to move in the other direction. We need to ensure that every eligible voter has the information and tools to make their voices heard!
Debbie Schmieding
Athens, OH
