Protest against gerrymandering. (Photo by Olivier Douliery, Getty Images.)
The election is over, but our commitment to a stronger Ohio remains.
Those organizing for an Ohio that works for everyone realize that organizing must happen 365 days a year. It happens between election cycles and in the run-up to elections. And it will continue regardless of whether we like the election results.
Therefore, we cannot afford to be discouraged or lulled into complacency. It is not enough to mobilize behind certain candidates; instead, we must rally together and support a vision that improves conditions for all. We must insist that financiers and donors invest in grassroots organizations that drive progress today, tomorrow and into the future.
This isn’t to say we shouldn’t pause and process what happened. We should. But as we process the election results, we must remember that our work is bigger than one election or a particular candidate. We’re fighting for a vision of Ohio where everyone is included seen, they all belong, and they can all thrive.
We know there’s a lot of hand-wringing and deep thinking. We know many are frustrated. But as we consider what happened and why, remember that context matters. Although several candidates and measures important to progress failed, we are not without heap. We must also keep things in perspective.
For example, if we are discouraged by election turnout, we should consider whether voting policies are voter-friendly. If we are discouraged by the outcomes of #1, we must consider the campaign of confusion waged by our opponents. We must remember it too that Ohio’s state legislative maps have been declared unconstitutional on seven separate occasions and that Ohioans have voted under maps that are gerrymandered and may be racially discriminatory. That means no matter who comes, Black voters and other voters of color are struggling to choose the candidates of their choice.
We knew this, so we took steps to approve Issue 1 to resolve this challenge. However, the wording of the amendment and the summary were very confusing. This was by design. The summary language deceptively suggested that the measure would have caused gerrymandering. How can people vote for a message if the summary of that language would do the exact opposite of what the amendment actually did? While we certainly hoped #1 would succeed, we’re forced to go back to the drawing board and develop a different strategy to protect the interests of voters against politicians who want to protect their seats instead of creating fair districts.
As we do this, we are clear that the public will is on our side. We know voters want change. This was clear from the many rounds of public opinion research we conducted. We also know that voters want more say in how legislative districts are drawn. Lots of people those we spoke to are disgusted and frustrated when they realize they thought they were voting to end gerrymandering because of the misleading ballot language, only to find out they were voting to continue the status quo who gave us the unconstitutional system we have now. are currently living under. We remind them that we cannot be permanently deterred by what seems like a setback. Organizing is about perseverance. It’s about fighting for change until change comes.
Our message to voters and organizers is simple: don’t be discouraged. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that victories won’t be visible until Election Day. Refusing to quit is a victory in itself. Learning from perceived failures is also a victory makes future success possible.
Our disappointment with Issue 1 should not detract from our determination to help Black and brown voters. Our ancestors hoped against hope, even when circumstances seemed foolish to hope. We must channel their determination and hope as well as our own. If we do this, the tide will change, and the pendulum will swing toward the vision that improves conditions for all.
For this to happen, we must remember that organizing requires dedication, determination and commitment. It is not enough to mobilize behind certain candidates. It is not enough to embrace one voting issue or another. We must mobilize behind a vision and then refusing to give up until that vision is realized.
We know many are disappointed, but we cannot afford to stand still. We have to move forward. We must continue our fight. Our children and grandchildren depend on our decision. We must not abandon them.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
