Media releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Early voter shuttles relaunch in three Ohio cities

October 23, 2008, Columbus – Vote Today Ohio (VTO) relaunched its successful early voter mobilization shuttle program yesterday in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati.

From mid-October through Election Day, VTO intends to help thousands of Ohioans get to Early Vote Centers so they can cast their ballots safely and easily.

The decision to relaunch came on the heels of the successful VTO Golden Week program. From September 30 to October 6, VTO transported 3300 otherwise unlikely voters to Early Voting Centers in six targeted counties – a number that translates to 13% of all early voters and 32% of the voters who registered and voted at the same time during that period.

The VTO program is designed to help voters avoid a repeat of the notorious long lines, broken machines, and GOP intimidation faced by hundreds of thousands of disenfranchised Ohioans in 2004.

VTO volunteers in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati will be continuing the promotion of early voting as a way for underrepresented Ohioans to ensure their voices get heard. Voters now have a toll free number – 866.748.8867 – to call for one of the free VTO shuttles.

Vote Today Ohio is a grassroots PAC (political action committee) committed to enhancing democracy by encouraging more Ohioans to vote, especially those too often failed by the democratic process.

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Photos of relaunch activities can be found at http://www.votetodayohio.org

For media interviews, ride-along requests, or further information:

Pam Kapoor, Press Officer
614.754.8317
kapoorpam@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First ever early voting period starts with a bang

Columbus, 29 September 2008 – History was made today when Ohio's first ever early voting period began. Dubbed 'Golden Week' by Vote Today Ohio and other electoral awareness groups, the early voting period is the first time in a presidential election that voters in Ohio can register and vote at the same time – and early. Initial indications are that they are seizing the opportunity.

Beginning this morning, voting centers across the state opened their doors to welcome any Ohioan wishing to cast a ballot in advance of November 4^th. So far, indications are that the process could not be easier.

“I've been hearing all day from the volunteers we have deployed across the state – the response they're getting from voters is overwhelmingly positive,” says Amy Little, Field Director for the inaugural VTO initiative.

Stephen Hightower, a Columbus-based VTO volunteer coordinator and community activist, is not surprised by the positive response of the early voting scheme: “It's easy and it's quick. People are really digging the idea of getting their vote out of the way now instead of contending with the line-ups and potential hassles of November 4^th.”

After such a successful first day, VTO organizers are confident that the instant popularity of early voting will carry through the rest of this week.

Vote Today Ohio (VTO) is one of several outreach initiatives working to increase awareness among Ohio voters about early voting, and the only operation focused exclusively on voter mobilization.

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