Groups work to engage young voters in democracy as election processes come under scrutiny

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Clouds of bubbles streamed aloft and Charli xcx’s song “talk talk” boomed alongside a 19-foot Airstream Caravel, as the League of Women Voters of Ohio’s statewide roadshow aimed at registering student voters and exciting them about democracy rolled onto Ohio State University’s main campus Thursday.

The travel trailer, on loan from its iconic Ohio-based manufacturer, was emblazoned with the effort’s motto: “Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Power.”

A volunteer implored the throng of students passing by not to forget that Oct. 7 is the registration deadline. “What if you wake up on Oct. 8 and change your mind?” she shouted. “It’ll be too late.”

While early, in-person voting in Ohio begins Oct. 8, the day after the registration cutoff, ballots have already gone out for overseas and military voters.

The League’s tour to about 20 colleges and universities — which has resulted in more than 5,000 voter contacts and indirect outreach to thousands more — is among dozens of voter registration efforts taking place across the state ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election. As of last week, another voter advocacy group, the Organizing for Ohio Coordinated Campaign, said it had reached out to more than 1 million voters and is seeing “unprecedented momentum.”

The efforts come as Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose has continued to intensify scrutiny of Ohio’s election processes in a year when voters will elect a president, decide a key U.S. Senate race and weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment to change the way Ohio draws its political maps.

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