By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
The Prince Hall Masonic Phamily hosted Let’s Talk About It: Project 2025 with State Senator Paula Hicks- Hudson and Voter Education with Lavera Scott, Lucas County Board of Elections Director on Wednesday September 18, at Octagon Hall No. 4.
Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson spoke about Project 2025, fair maps and the importance of voting YES to Issue 1 this November election.
“While everyone is looking at the national Project 2025 there are things happening at the state level that’s already been implemented, and people need to know that,” Hicks-Hudson said. “We need to also focus on state policies and what’s happening at the state level.”
In particular, the Ohio senator wants voters to know about Ohio Senate Bill 83. “It is designed to eliminate DEI and to eliminate tenure tracks for professors and true open discussion because they are saying that colleges are hot bed for liberalism and conservative thought can’t’ be supported,” she shared.
She says it has passed out of the Senate and is currently stalled in the House of Representatives. “There are all these things that are being done very quietly at the state level and folks need to be aware of it,” stated Hicks-Hudson.
“Right now, in the state of Ohio we are at a crisis point as it relates to democracy… Project 2025 [was created by] the Heritage Foundation, an organization that for the last 20 years or years or so has been working primarily with Republicans driving a conservative agenda for our government.”
“Many of the things that we as African Americans we have been blessed to be able to partake in, they’re working to undo them,” Hicks-Hudson advised.
She highlighted that Project 2025 aims to roll back programs and processes for veterans, dismantle The Department of Education by moving it to the state level and removing civil service protection, among other initiatives.
Scott, Lucas County Board of Election director, spoke about voter registration, education and requirements, the previous voter turnout and jobs available on and leading up to Election Day.
She stated, “We’re less than 50 days out and need to stress the importance of people being prepared for voting on Election Day: checking their registration, reading the ballot, looking at who the candidates are, and doing research before we get to the ballot because people are hoping that we don’t know what we’re doing and we just have to show up and show them that we do.”
Important Information about voting this election:
PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Close of Registration – Monday, October 7, 2024
(To vote in the General Election you must be registered to vote by this date at 9:00 p.m.)
Absentee voting begins – Tuesday, October 8th, 2024
(At the Early Vote Center – 3737 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo)
IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING (EARLY VOTE CENTER) (begins Tuesday, October 8″, 2024 and ends Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.) – you must present ONE of the following:
- Ohio driver’s license with current or former address
- Ohio ID with current or former address
- Interim ID from BMV (until driver’s license or ID arrives in the mail)
- Military ID
- U.S. passport or passport card
NOTE: A suspended driver’s license that is not expired may still be used as a photo ID for voting. If a photo ID is not presented, the voter may vote provisional.
ELECTION DAY VOTING (Tuesday, November 5, 2024) – you must present ONE of the following:
- Ohio driver’s license with current or former address
- Ohio ID with current or former address
- Interim ID from BMV (until driver’s license or ID arrives in the mail)
- Military ID
- U.S. passport or passport card
ABSENTEE BY MAIL VOTING – an absentee ballot application must be completed and submitted to the Board of Elections office with ONE of the following:
- Ohio driver’s license number
- Ohio ID number
- Last four of your Social Security number
- Copy of front and back of your Ohio driver’s license
- Copy of Ohio state ID card
- Copy of the ID page of a passport that includes voter’s name, photo and expiration date
An absentee ballot application must be received by the close of business on the seventh day before Election Day (Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – office open until 8:30 p.m.)
TO REGISTER TO VOTE, you must have your Ohio driver’s license or Ohio ID number, or the last four of your Social Security Number. You can verify your registration status, register to vote, or update your registration online at www.lucascountyohiovotes.gov.
AN OHIO ID IS OFFERED FOR FREE AT THE BMV – Ohio ID cards can be used for voter identification purposes (not issued for driving privileges).
The following are NO LONGER accepted as an ID for voting – utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document with current address.
CURE PERIOD for PROVISIONAL BALLOTS – provisional voters have until the fourth day (Saturday, November 9th, 2024) after Election Day to ‘cure’ their ballot (i.e., provide a photo ID, sign a religious objection affidavit, or provide other information needed to make the ballot valid.
A DROP BOX IS AVAILABLE FOR BALLOTS at the Lucas County Board of Elections office at
3737 W. Sylvania Avenue. The drop box is located at the back of the parking lot and can be approached by a vehicle.
THERE IS NO PERMANENT LIST OF ABSENTEE VOTERS. YOU MUST SUBMIT A SEPARATE REQUEST FOR EACH ELECTION.
To learn more or view job opportunities for the upcoming election visit www.lucascountyohiovotes.gov
To see if you are registered to vote this upcoming election visit voterlookup.ohiosos.gov