Civil Rights Groups Announce ‘Turn Up Tuesdays’ to Mobilize Communities to Fight for the Right to Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shin Inouye, The Leadership Conference, [email protected], 202.869.0398
Kelly Brewington, All Voting is Local, [email protected], 202.548.7159

WASHINGTON – The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and All Voting is Local, with its joint campaign And Still I Vote, launched Turn Up Tuesdays, a weekly, national call to action to mobilize voters and urge officials to ensure fair and safe elections in 2020. Kicking off in Ohio on Tuesday, April 14, Turn Up Tuesdays is dedicated to ensuring that the election process in upcoming primaries does not encounter the disarray that voters experienced in Wisconsin’s election on April 7. Ohio’s primary election is currently scheduled for April 28 after a postponement in response to COVID-19 concerns.

“Voters throughout the country want to participate in the democratic process and make their voices heard. But many feel confused and cut off from practical options for doing so given recent changes in their local election process and the uncertainties caused by COVID-19,” said Ashley Allison, executive vice president of campaigns and programs at The Leadership Conference. “Turn Up Tuesdays will give voters the guidance they need to exercise their fundamental right to vote. We are excited to partner with and support the dynamic voting rights organizations leading this work in Ohio to help uplift the fight for voting rights during Ohio’s primary. Together, we are working to ensure that voting is safe, free, and fair for everyone.”

In partnership with a coalition of voter rights organizations, All Voting is Local Ohio is hosting and supporting a series of events this week to help educate Ohioans about the changes in this year’s primary election. Ohio’s primary, previously scheduled for March 17, will be held almost exclusively by mail-in ballot in response to the COVID-19 epidemic.

“Ohio’s primary has been fraught with chaos since the initial primary date was moved and voting has essentially shifted entirely to vote by mail,” said Mike Brickner, Ohio State Director for All Voting is Local. “Unfortunately, too many voters are unfamiliar with voting by mail, and are unsure about how to use the system. We want to do our part to ensure that as many Ohio voters as possible are able to exercise their right to vote in this year’s primary.”

“Our partners have stepped up to help get the word out about the changes that have taken place. This week’s push is critical to helping Ohio voters ensure their voices are heard,” Brickner added.

Here is a list of the week’s events:

Monday, April 13

Ohio Voter Rights Coalition members, led by the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, launched a text campaign to encourage Ohio voters to turn in their vote by mail ballots in advance of April 28. Volunteers have already contacted over 100,000 voters in the past week to encourage them to request a ballot.

Tuesday, April 14

5:30 – 6 p.m. EDT
Turn Up Tuesday Facebook Live Event – All Voting is Local will speak with Ohio residents who experienced difficulty casting their ballot before the primary was changed to April 28.

Participants

Ashley Allison, executive vice president of campaigns and programs, The Leadership Conference
Mike Brickner, Ohio state director, All Voting is Local
Jennifer Lumpkin, Cleveland Votes
Alicia Hopkins, Ohio resident and voter

Wednesday, April 15

7:30 – 8:30 p.m. EDT

All Voting is Local is hosting a Tele-Town Hall for 150,000 Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo residents.
Tele-Town Hall Conference Line for PRESS: (540)-409-4375 Ext.59287#

Speakers:

Sam Sylk, Host of the Sam Sylk Show, 93.1 Cleveland – moderator
Tom Roberts, NAACP-Ohio president
Danielle Sydnor, NAACP-Cleveland president
Erika Anthony, co-founder, Cleveland Votes
Mike Brickner, Ohio state director, All Voting is Local

2:30 p.m. EDT [For PRESS ONLY]

The Leadership Conference and All Voting is Local will host a press call to discuss the importance of this week of activation in Ohio.
Details on participation will be provided upon request.

Participants:

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO, The Leadership Conference
Mike Brickner, Ohio state director, All Voting is Local
Prentiss Haney, executive director, Ohio Student Association
Jen Miller, executive director, League of Women Voters of Ohio

Thursday, April 16

10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. EDT

League of Women Voters Ohio hosts Virtual Statehouse Day Event

Learn about the next steps in implementing anti-gerrymandering reforms that were passed by voters in 2015 and 2018, as well ways to modernize Ohio’s voter registration system. More information can be found at the League of Women Voters of Ohio’s website.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

All Voting is Local fights to eliminate needless and discriminatory barriers to voting before they happen, to build a democracy that works for us all. It is a collaborative campaign housed at The Leadership Conference Education Fund, in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation; the American Constitution Society; the Campaign Legal Center; and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. For more information about All Voting is Local, visit https://allvotingislocal.org and follow us on Twitter @votingislocal.