Election 2005: For Electoral Reform, Vote Yes on 2, 3, 4, 5

By voting yes on Issues 2, 3, 4 and 5, the democratic process will work better for all Ohioians.

Issue 2 will allow all Ohioans to vote by mail or in-person at county boards of elections as well as at other select locations up to 35 days before an election for any reason at all. Allowing more flexibility in voting methods could increase citizen participation in the political process and this would improve the qualities of the candidates elected to office. Issue 2 encourages all Ohioans to vote

Don't allow out-of-state money and high individual campaign contribution levels control the debate on Ohio issues.

Vote yes on Issue 3. It has three provisions aimed at limiting the political influence of money. First, it limits the influence of out-of state money on state elections. Also, it prohibits outside political parties and committees from contributing to state campaigns.

Second, Issue 3 reduces the amount of money an individual can give to candidates, parties and PACs to $25,000 annually per individual for state elections. So if an individual is married and has two children over the age of seven, he or she can give $100,000 per year to support political parties and candidates. Though, that is still a lot more speaking power than most of us have.

Lastly, it calls for full disclosure of contributions to, and expenditures of, a candidate. Public knowledge of the different contributors to a candidate can reduce the influence of special interest in legislation. In order to take redistricting out of the hands of politicians, vote yes on Issue 4. District lines have come to have little meaning other than "safe zones" for political parties to control and they do nothing to reinforce a sense of community, people with similar social needs, beliefs and issues. They combine communities in unnatural ways. They have no natural rhyme or reason. This gerrymandering is a long established practice for the majority party. It eliminates competition and, in return, voter choice and turnout.

We have the same old party winner year after year. This causes many citizens to not even bother to vote. Issue 4 helps to create choice and competition in state and national elections. It is time for a real choice. Take oversight of elections out of the hands of political interests, by voting yes on Issue 5. It creates a nine-member nonpartisan appointed board to oversee elections; four appointed by the governor, four by the opposition party in the General Assembly and one by a unanimous vote by the Ohio Supreme Court justices.

These nonpartisan board members are not allowed to hold any public office, be politically active or be a lobbyist. Nonpartisan oversight would go a long way in restoring public trust in fair elections.

Together, Issues 2 through 5 reduce the influence of political parties and special interest in Ohio's politics.

It's time to restore trust in the political process and encourage public participation.