For decades we have been fighting for voting rights because voting is the most fundamental element of our democracy.  However, in 2011, some state governments, including Ohio, have attempted to suppress voting by certain populations.  Some have implemented voter ID bills; other states have limited the voting period, as well as early voting. These changes will hit vulnerable communities the hardest: our seniors, those who are disabled, college students, and low-income Americans.  It is unconstitutional, and unacceptable.  These provisions will prevent eligible Americans from participating.

Congresswoman Fudge submitted an op-ed to the Huffington Post on the struggle to maintain the right to vote for every eligible American in recognition of Black History Month. Read an exerpt here:

"As we observe Black History Month, there is no better time to stop and recognize that the struggle of many Americans to exercise their right to vote is not confined to the past. A disturbing new chapter of that struggle is playing out now. In 1870, African-Americans were given the right to vote through the 15th amendment, yet for nearly 90 years, many were prevented from exercising this very right. Voter qualifying tests, dis criminatory enforcement of registration rules, poll taxes, and outright racial gerrymandering were just some of the devices standing between African-Americans and their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote..." click here to continue reading.

In 2011, Congresswoman Fudge sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking him to analyze recently passed voting laws. The letter calls for the Department of Justice to uphold Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.  For jurisdictions where Section 5 is inapplicable, the letter exhorts the Justice Department to scrutinize state legislation for discriminatory intent against minority classes covered under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.  One-hundred fifteen members co-signed the letter, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, and Assistant Minority Leader Jim Clyburn.  Read the letter here.

In 2011, Rep. Fudge introduced H.R.2540, Voter Protection Hotline Act of 2011. The bill directs the Attorney General (AG) to establish and operate a toll-free telephone service through which individuals may: (1) obtain information on voting in elections for federal office, including how to register to vote, the hours of operation of polling places, and how to obtain absentee ballots; and (2) report problems encountered in registering to vote or voting, including incidences of voter intimidation or suppression.

Ohio HB 194

At a press conference in Cleveland on September 27, 2011, Rep. Fudge spoke out against Ohio House Bill 194. On September 29, the state announced they had over 300,000 signatures, enough to get a repeal on the ballot in 2012. View video from the signature acceptance press conference here:

(click headline links to view full articles)

The Plain Dealer: New Ohio elections law put on hold after groups deliver petitions to put issue on ballot

The referendum effort is aimed at House Bill 194, a Republican-backed law that restricts early-voting opportunities and makes other changes that Democrats say amount to voter suppression. U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, a Warrensville Heights Democrat, said suspension of the law will increase turnout among the elderly, minorities, the needy and the disabled -- all groups that tend to support Democrats. "It could change the outcome of an election," Fudge said at a Thursday news conference in Columbus to announce 318,460 petition signatures had been gathered. "It will make a difference by [HB 194] being on the 2012 ballot and not taking effect two days from now."

Columbus Dispatch: Foes of new election law deliver ample signatures to block it

The coalition of Democrats, unions, voting rights groups and other organizations is led by former Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. The coalition hopes to block House Bill 194 from taking effect. Opponents say it would suppress the vote in Ohio by "drastically shortening the time period for voting early and absentee voting, and (it) bans in-person voting on Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday." "Today’s submission represents the voice of Ohio citizens standing up and reasserting their voting rights despite efforts by the legislature to take us back," Brunner said. U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Cleveland, said the GOP-passed law “sets up roadblocks that make it harder to vote, and will disproportionately affect our most vulnerable citizens. If this is allowed to stand, many seniors, students and the sick will be shut out of the process.” By submitting enough qualifying signatures, the coalition has prevented the law from taking effect, pending the referendum next fall.

Ohio News Network: Opponents Temporarily Suspend Ohio Election Law

Boxes of petitions were delivered to Secretary of State Jon Husted on Thursday that could, at least for the year, halt a controversial new election reform law. "There's no doubt in my mind that it is a coordinated effort," said Rep. Marcia Fudge. "There is no doubt." Congresswoman Fudge said that Republican lawmakers all over the country are attempting to find ways to suppress Democratic votes. Fudge said that the Ohio law targets the elderly, college students and minorities by eliminating early voting locations, pre-paid postage for absentee ballots and prohibiting poll workers from helping voters find the right precinct on Election Day. "We're not back to the days of counting jelly beans in jar, but we may as well be," Fudge said. "Anytime you create a barrier for people to vote, you're trying to suppress the vote." Nearly 320,000 signatures were turned in Thursday. That's above the quarter million needed, ONN's Jim Heath reported. When verified, Ohio's primary election in 2012 will return to March instead of May.

Call and Post: Congresswoman Marcia Fudge supporting efforts to overturn HB 194

Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) held a news conference to discuss immediate and future restrictions on voting rights caused by Ohio’s voter suppression law known as HB 194. As the petition campaign to bring this measure to the ballot for a statewide vote draws to a close, the Congresswoman was joined by civic leaders, clergy, volunteers, and impacted citizens to update the public on those efforts. Dr. Otis Moss Jr., Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk, and Fair Elections Ohio Campaign Director Gregory Moore all spoke about the importance of this bill. HB 194 is a voter suppression bill. "H.B. 194, the Voter Suppression Bill, invalidates a vote where a voter properly marks the ballot in support of a particular candidate, but also writes in the name of that same candidate,” said Congresswoman Fudge.

Wooser Daily Record: Signatures Submitted to Put Election Law Changes on Ballot

"Ohio has today shown the 40 other states in this country who have some form of voter suppression bill on the books or in the process of trying to pass one, this is still a democracy, this is still a government for the people and by the people," said Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, a Democrat from Cleveland. "And we are going to show them that they can't just tell us what to do." The referendum seeks to repeal House Bill 194, which shortened Ohio's early voting period, eliminated the so-called "golden week" during which people could register to vote and cast ballots on the same day and prohibited election boards from sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications to eligible voters.

Ohio's Voter ID Law

Voter ID laws could disenfranchise more than 21 million Americans. Rep. Fudge spoke out against the Voter ID law in Ohio, and those across the country. Since, the Republican led General Assembly in Ohio has put Voter ID legislation on hold.