Ohioans may have the chance to add a new Voters Bill of Rights to the state Constitution to support ballot access.

Voting rights' advocates said they want better controls on the state's purging of voter registration rolls. They also want early voting days restored, and protections enshrined in the Constitution, rather than only in law.

Petee Talley, executive director of the Ohio Coalition on Black Civic Participation, said although previous attempts to make the additions have been rejected, she is optimistic the changes would increase turnout and make elections more fair.

"The amendment is going to help build an equitable path to the ballot box for all Ohioans," Talley pointed out. "While continuing to ensure that Ohio has elections that are secure and are administered with integrity whenever we voters go to the ballot box."

The coalition has submitted amendment language and aims to gather at least 400,000 signatures starting in February for this coming November's ballot. First, they need Attorney General and Ohio Ballot Board approval, within the next 10 days.

Last week, a federal judge upheld Republican-backed House Bill 458, which pushed several new voting restrictions through the Ohio Legislature. The ruling found the restrictions on in-person and absentee voting processes did not violate the U.S. Constitution.

Talley noted voters recently rejected proposals to restrict constitutional amendments, which has motivated the new push to reinforce voting rights.

"We're hopeful that now is the time to take such a basic issue that is the right of all Americans and try and enshrine that in the Constitution," Talley stressed. "Especially given that it sometimes feels like politicians in Columbus are not listening to the will of the voters."

In August of last year, voters decided not to make the Ohio constitutional amendment process more difficult. Instead, they voted to allow amendments to pass with a simple majority rather than a supermajority.

Reporting by Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.


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Gov. Andy Beshear is among a small group being considered by Vice President Kamala Harris's team as a potential running mate.

There are reports Kentucky's top Democrat has been asked to submit vetting documents, along with three other contenders, including Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pa., and Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C.

Stephen Voss, associate professor of political science at the University of Kentucky, said other names being floated would leave critical states susceptible to a Republican handover if they left office. He argued, on paper, Beshear may be a safe bet for the Democratic Party.

"Beshear, as a term-limited, second-term governor in a smaller, less prominent state, would hurt neither his career nor the Democratic Party as much as any of the other choices," Voss pointed out. "Beshear's just in a sweet spot to step into the ticket-mate role."

Beshear is also one of the most popular Democratic governors in the country, with solid approval from both Independents and Republicans in the state, according to a Morning Consult Poll.

Carmen Rogers, a resident of Bath County, said she would support Beshear running as a vice presidential candidate, adding it is an exciting time for the Commonwealth.

"I think he's really proven himself as a unifying figure," Rogers asserted. "To be elected twice in Kentucky, a very red state, during elections where hardly any Democrats did down-ballot, is just a real testament to what kind of a unifying figure he could be."

Laura Weinstein, voter services chair for the League of Women Voters of Kentucky, said the extraordinary circumstances of the past week should not distract voters from the issues, noting it is important to evaluate candidates based on their platforms.

"Often we vote based on personality, and that's fine," Weinstein noted. "But we really need to know, what will these candidates do once they're in office? And 'Vote 411' is the place you can go to find that. And not only for presidential candidates. All the down-ballot races that we have in Kentucky are significant this year."

She's referring to the nonpartisan website Vote411.org Residents have until Oct. 7 to register to vote in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

More than 2 million Kentuckians showed up at the polls in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Kentucky State Board of Elections.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


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With fewer than four months before the November general election, Democrats are planning their next move following President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 race.

Cal Jillson, professor of political science at Southern Methodist University, said Democrats have two options.

"One of them is a fairly smooth handoff to Vice President Harris because she was already on the ticket," Jillson explained. "But many Democrats are calling for an open competition between Kamala Harris and several other Democrats that might want to step forward."

Jillson noted if Harris is the nominee, she will inherit the campaign money and operation already in place. In a post on the social media platform "X," Biden endorsed Harris to be the nominee for the Democratic Party.

Jillson pointed out Biden's departure from the election could give undecided voters the candidate they have been seeking.

"There's a possibility that a new Democratic nominee could generate a relief rally, not only among Democrats, but perhaps among independents and some alienated Republicans, that there is a different choice than Biden or Trump," Jillson contended.

Jillson stressed if Democrats can pick their nominee in a smooth and graceful manner, the party could recover from the divisive optics of the last several weeks when many in the party called for Biden to step down. He added if Harris is the nominee, she will have to run a strong campaign.

"She ran a very poor presidential nomination campaign herself in 2020, had a lot of trouble holding her staff together and developing her issue position," Jillson recounted. "So, we'll see whether or not she has gained those skills over the last three years."


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California political analysts predict the race for president will tighten since President Joe Biden has dropped out and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

If elected, Harris would be the first Black woman and first person of Asian descent to ascend to the highest office in the land.

Lynn Vavreck, professor of political science at the University of California-Los Angeles, predicted it will re-energize the race on the Democratic side.

"There will be a flood of money coming into whatever the new ticket is likely to be," Vavreck pointed out. "The race will once again tighten to be somewhere around 50/50. That will roll us into the Democratic convention. And from that point forward, it's not that long until early voting starts."

Harris has vowed to "earn and win" the nomination at the Democratic National Convention, which starts in Chicago on August 19. It is unclear if anyone will challenge Harris for the nomination, or whom she might choose as a running mate.

Mark Baldassare, survey director for the Public Policy Institute of California, noted Harris previously served as a U.S. Senator from California, Attorney General of the Golden State, and District Attorney for San Francisco.

"This is somebody who has a long history of public service at the local, state and national levels," Baldassare emphasized. "And of course, spent three years as the vice president, which is very relevant (to) somebody who would step into the Oval Office and become president."

Harris is a strong supporter of abortion rights, voting rights, social justice and environmental causes.


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