Dear friend,

Big news to start the weekend.

Ohio Democrats take pride in always protecting voting rights. Several months ago, our close review of Ohio law made it clear to us that the Secretary of State was actually in violation of Ohio statute by rejecting electronic or online applications for absentee ballots (something many other states allow). So we went to court.

Late this afternoon, the court agreed with us, granting us a preliminary injunction to allow voters to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot electronically.

This is a big win for Ohio voters, providing a fast, easy and modern way for voters to request an absentee ballot. We are pleased the court agreed with our argument that not only does Ohio law permit voters to request absentee ballots electronically, but that the Secretary of State's policy rejecting such applications violated Ohio law.

It looks like Secretary of State Frank LaRose (who for two years has claimed he supports online applications but, incorrectly, that Ohio did not allow them), will appeal the decision. Disappointing to say the least.

We will keep up this fight, and the others we are waging, to support Ohioans' voter rights.

Keeping up the fight is part of the American tradition, something that is especially poignant today, the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The memory of that horrific day is seared into my mind, but I can't forget the moments of hope and unity that came in the days that followed.

It's impossible not to compare that moment with the crisis we're facing now.

Vice President Joe Biden shared his thoughts on today's commemoration:


"Now, as then, our heroes are ordinary people doing extraordinary things: nurses and doctors; delivery drivers and grocery clerks; public transit workers and educators; regular Americans thrust into courageous acts of sacrifice and service. Now, as then, we owe it to them to come together as a nation -- so that Americans can once again do what we did so bravely nineteen years ago: turn from tragedy to purpose, rebuild our lives, and begin, in time, to heal."

It is my deepest hope that America can truly come together as a nation, to fight the coronavirus threat, to deal with an unprecedented economic crisis and to push back against a rising tide of hatred and divisiveness.

This election is about the future of our nation. It is so important, and we must do everything we can to ensure maximum participation.

In solidarity,

David



David Pepper
Chairman
Ohio Democratic Party


TRUMP WATCH

Trump's Lies Have Consequences

This week -- as we approach the cataclysmic milestone of nearly 200,000 Americans dead from COVID-19 -- we learned how Donald Trump worked to conceal the facts about the coronavirus threat from the American people. Trump lied and downplayed the crisis for months, despite knowing how deadly it was. It's a stunning act of betrayal.

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Trump and the White House can't spin this: Trump is on tape admitting in his own words that he knew the virus was "deadly," but that he was "playing it down." Trump's lies didn't prevent panic; they cost an untold number of lives and caused devastating economic harm.



OHIO DEMS IN THE HEADLINES

"A Modern-Day Poll Tax"

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Congressman Tim Ryan sent a letter this week to Secretary of State Frank LaRose urging him to use his existing authority to provide prepaid return postage on ballots and ballot applications to help eliminate voting barriers and ensure a free and fair election in November.

"In an election where many citizens' only practical option is to vote by mail, forcing Ohioans to pay postage in order to exercise this right is akin to a modern-day poll tax. Nothing in the Ohio code prohibits you from prepaying return postage on both ballot application forms and ballots themselves," wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers also demanded that LaRose work with the U.S. Postal Service to guarantee ballots that originate in Ohio are delivered on time, with visible postmarks and do not succumb to delays and cost-cutting measures -- which could endanger timely delivery of vote by mail ballots.

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UPCOMING EVENTS


You can always find events near you at Mobilize.us/OHDems.

Here are additional events:

Saturday, Sept. 12 -- No-Contact Lit Drops with Kate Schroder for Congress [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Lyndhurst Lit Drop for State Rep. Phil Robinson and Tom Jackson for Ohio Senate [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Rocky River Lit Drop for Monique Smith for Ohio House [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Bay Village Lit Drop for Monique Smith for Ohio House [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Hilliard Lit Drop with Crystal Lett and Nancy Day-Achauer [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Meet the Candidates Tailgate with Progress Hilliard, Hilliard Democrats, Franklin County Young Democrats and Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Out for Biden Statewide LGBTQ+ Weekend of Action [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Lit Drop For Leronda Jackson for Ohio House [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Battleground Ohio: Summit County Saturdays [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Northeast Ohio Social Media Boot Camp [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Delaware County Democratic Party Wagon Tour in Delaware [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Southwest Ohio Morning Cup of Joe in the Greater Dayton Area [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Warren County Dems Phone Bank [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Summit County Democratic Party "Drive the Vote" Event in Barberton [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Fairfield County Democratic Party Office and Sign Distribution Day [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Meet and Greet with Christian Johnson for Ohio Senate in Logan [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Meet and Greet with Christian Johnson for Ohio Senate in Nelsonville [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Meet and Greet with Christian Johnson for Ohio Senate in Athens [link removed]
Sunday, Sept. 13 -- Seniors for Biden Virtual Phone Bank [link removed]
Sunday, Sept. 13 -- Virtual Phone Bank for Amy Cox for Ohio House [link removed]
Sunday, Sept. 13 -- Phone Bank for Nancy Larson for Ohio House [link removed]
Sunday, Sept. 13 -- Powell Lit Drop for Rachael Morocco for Ohio House [link removed]
Sunday, Sept. 13 -- Clark County Democratic Party Lit Drop [link removed]
Sunday, Sept. 13 -- Ohio Young Black Dems Statewide Phone Bank [link removed]
Monday, Sept. 14 -- Wood County -- Battleground Phone Bank [link removed]
Monday, Sept. 14 -- Phone Bank for Charmaine McGuffey for Hamilton County Sheriff [link removed]
Tuesday, Sept. 15 -- Ohio Veterans for Biden: 1-on-1 with Desiree Tims for Congress [link removed]
Tuesday, Sept. 15 -- Oberlin Backyard Phone Bank for Zach Stepp for Ohio House [link removed]
Tuesday, Sept. 15 -- Virtual Phone Bank for State Rep. Mary Lightbody [link removed]
Tuesday, Sept. 15 -- Virtual Phone Bank for Joan Sweeny for Ohio House [link removed]
Tuesday, Sept. 15 -- Virtual Fundraiser for Mike Mentel for Court of Appeals with Commissioner Kevin Boyce [link removed]
Tuesday, Sept. 15 -- Veterans for Biden Virtual Phone Bank [link removed]
Wednesday, Sept. 16 -- Ohio Democratic Party Digital Organizing Training [link removed]
Wednesday, Sept. 16 -- Battleground Ohio Voter Protection Virtual Phone Bank [link removed]
Wednesday, Sept. 16 -- Cocktails with Fanon Rucker for Hamilton County Prosecutor [link removed]
Wednesday, Sept. 16 -- Elyria/North Ridgeville Backyard Phone Bank for Zach Stepp for Ohio House [link removed]
Wednesday, Sept. 16 -- Greater Dayton Young Dems Phone Bank [link removed]
Wednesday, Sept. 16 -- Tuscarawas County Volunteer Summit [link removed]
Wednesday, Sept. 16 -- Nurses for Biden Virtual Phone Bank [link removed]
Thursday, Sept. 17 -- Stark County Virtual Phone Bank with Action Together Stark [link removed]
Friday, Sept. 18 -- National Black Voter Day Relational App Event [link removed]
Saturday, Sept. 26 -- Ohio Sportsmen and Sportswomen Virtual Phone Bank [link removed]
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Paid for by the Ohio Democratic Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. [link removed]

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