Ohio

Check your registration and see if it's still okay.

I find that while the Secretary of State website still offers registration through a web form, my local County Board of Elections is talking about some sort of paper - not online - form that you have to turn in to their office to get registered.

Do I need it? Or am I already covered from last time? Maybe the piece of paper is only required for new voters in the county? Who knows, so check your own situation. I suspect the fuckery has been ramped up since Republicans in office got results on marijuana and abortion that they didn't like when the voters showed up last November and August.

I am a guy who glanced at the Secretary of State and local County Board websites, and not an authoritative source, you'll need to research your specific situation in your county.

I close with a reminder that they sneak all kinds of stuff onto the primary ballots, they are never just about who is going to end up President.

For example, my local ballot will have a vote on it to refresh the funding for the developmental difficulties program, and the local public parks. This is why I show up, I'm looking for this stuff, it's not going on other ballots, so you have to get at it during primaries.

We still have mail-in voting, and early in-person voting, both of which start on February 21, a day after the last day to register, which again is February 20.

The official Primary Day is not until March 19, but the voter registration cutoff is 30 days earlier, that's the important date, one more time, February 20.

Keep using these rights as much as you can stand, because I don't think they intend to let us keep them if they can help it.

Snowy sunrises are my favorite. 🤩

Wishing you all quiet moments of magic, surprised laughter, and snuggly comfort time! ❤️ Happy Snowy Friday.

Two state elections with specific abortion-rights elections garnered more national attention than the others — Kansas and Ohio.

In Ohio last year, voters were first asked whether the state should make it much more difficult for citizen initiatives to qualify for the ballot by requiring signatures from all 88 counties instead of the current 44, removing a 10-day “cure” period to fix issues with signatures, and increasing the margin for an initiative to pass from a simple majority to a supermajority of 60%.

The election for that question, called Issue 1, was held on Aug. 8, and it failed by a wide margin, with 57% opposed.

…later, Ohioans were asked to vote again on the question of adding the right for an individual to make and carry out their own reproductive decisions and only allow the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, with exceptions… It was also called Issue 1, and passed by nearly the same margin as the August election, with 56.7% in favor.

In both states, those advocating for abortion rights were campaigning with many more dollars to spare, from special interest groups as well as individuals from across the country.

Ghouls...

Ohio actually has a law that says if you legally change your name within the last 5 years, it has to be on the petition. In the article it mentions that there is no place for a previous name (dead name in this instance) on the petition, and the Secretary of State’s candidate guide doesn’t mention this requirement at all.

Apparently other trans candidates had their petitions accepted with no problem.

Petition link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-Gj0dxO0wgu4TGFTICZifwW-5sikkdcLq9zc1dzN4Dyt_Lw/viewform

Announcement happening tomorrow morning. I have very little faith in DeWine showing the slightest care for trans teenagers... but I'm still holding onto hope somehow. As a trans person who couldn't come out when I was younger, let me just say it is MUCH harder as an adult to start to transition. If he visited hospitals and talked to doctors about what kinds of treatments are available for anyone under 18, he knows that treatments for youth are NOT surgeries like some people lie about. Let these people live their lives and get the Rx care they need.

No matter your opinion on trans people playing sports, do not make decisions against someone's healthcare because of the sports issue! Lives are on the line with this.

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/1463201

We've learned nothing from Ohio, Palestine.

(CNN) — An Ohio woman who had sought treatment at a hospital before suffering a miscarriage and passing her nonviable fetus in her bathroom now faces a criminal charge, her attorney told CNN.

Brittany Watts, 33, of Warren, has been charged with felony abuse of a corpse, Trumbull County court records show.

“Ms. Watts suffered a tragic and dangerous miscarriage that jeopardized her own life. Rather than focusing on healing physically and emotionally, she was arrested and charged with a felony,” her attorney, Traci Timko, told CNN in an email.

“Ms. Watts’ case is pending before the Trumbull County Grand Jury. I have advised her not to speak publicly until the criminal matter has resolved.”

Though a coroner’s office report said the fetus was not viable and had died in the womb, Watts’ case highlights the extent to which prosecutors can charge a woman whose pregnancy has ended – whether by abortion or miscarriage.

. . .

Via Leif Autzen's Mastodon

LFG Crewwww!!! Columbus 'till I die 🖤 💛 🖤 💛

Looks like the Senate bill has gotten better. There is some good and some bad. They're cutting back on home grow and max potency for extracts. They're expunging all convictions on possession of 2.5oz or less, and I think most importantly, allowing people to buy from medical dispensaries for recreational use. Right now, it's legal to possess, but illegal to sell. This should fix that loophole.

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/1264713

Here we go babyyyy