President’s Message
Three things for April
#1. I am sure you all are aware of the Primary Vote coming up on May 5. Early voting starts on April 7 at the Board of Election's new location at 1050 East Tallmadge Ave.
Primaries have very low turnout and as a result, only 1 out of 5 voters decide who will be on the ballot in November. This is how the most extreme candidates get on the ballot as their followers
make sure to vote, leaving the majority of the electorate out of the decision. Be sure to vote by May 5 and urge your family and friends to do the same.
Don’t know who is running or what they are about? Check out the Leagues information website about everything voting -
Vote411.org to learn about candidates, voting dates and times as well as view your own ballot and registration status. Voting rules continue to change. Keep up to date on: Vote411.org.
#2. Be sure to check out our upcoming Akron League events. We have something for everyone. Also, listed are important community events.
#3. Did you know that the League of Women Voters is part of a lawsuit on the national level defending the right to vote against Donald Trump’s executive orders to federalize voting?
We join with our national partners once again to make sure laws are not passed to deny our franchise. I am so proud to belong to the League of Women Voters.
Contents in Newsletter
- UPCOMING EVENTS
- Mini-zine Folding parties
- Civic Saturday - Longest Table
- Annual Membership Gathering
- LWVAA IN ACTION
- Democracy Defense Teach-in
- Woman of the Year - Historical Society
- No Kings III
- ADVOCACY
- Primary Election Information
- Fair Districts
- Advocacy Watch list
-
MEMBERSHIP
- United Way - Day of Learning
- VOTER SERVICES
- New Ohio Voter Registration Form
- Candidate Forum: Secretary of State Democrats
- Candidate Forums: Training and Recruitment
- LWVUS National Convention
- LOOK AHEAD
Democracy performs best when voters are actively engaged, have accurate information and access to the ballot.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 @ 6PM
Greensburg United Methodist Church
2161 Greensburg Rd, North Canton
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 @ 7PM
(Former church on corner of W. Market & N. Rose)
Shake off those winter blahs and come hang out with us.
Meet new friends, talk about LWVAA, our mission and other ways you can help empower voters and defend democracy.
We'll fold our latest mini-zine (micro-sized magazines) which provides information about the May 5th Primary Election using easy to understand words and graphics. No experience necessary. We'll show you how to fold the mini-zines.
Please join us!
Civic Saturday Potluck April 23! More information: HERE
Annual Membership Meeting June 4 details soon.
Photos from the Democracy Defense Teach-In on February 28, 2026 put on by the LWVO
On March 25,2026, the Summit County Historical Society. presented the 2026 Woman of the Year Recipients.
League of Women Voters member, Sarah Abood, was awarded the Initiative category. Congratulations Sarah!
No Kings Day III saw 8 million participants in 3100 sites.
In Akron, an estimated 3000 people showed up at the protest. The LWVAA had a table at the rally. Our terrific volunteers that day were Cathy and Terry Hunt, Jill and Rob Ghosh, and Jackie Savoca. Many other League members attended the protest and stopped by our table where we focused on education: promoting Vote411, and the importance of voting in Primary Elections.
"There is incredible power at the state and local levels. We will defend freedom from the ground up.” - Rachel Coyle
Fair Districts-Fair Democracy Huddle
Shifting Power: Primaries, Participation, and Representation in Ohio’s Political Map
Wednesday, April 8 at 6pm
The April Huddle will look at how power has shifted into the primaries, examining who makes the decisions that shape election season, and what all this means for democracy in our state. Here's one piece of good news: expanding primary engagement can make for more fair representation, even within districts that are structurally uncompetitive. We have the power to help make this shift—join the call on April 8th to learn more.
Click HERE to register for the Zoom call.
SPEAK UP:
Property Taxes, Public Schools, and the Future of Local Services
Property taxes are a key part of funding Ohio's public schools and community services we all rely on. This toolkit equips Ohio families with simple facts, talking points, and tools to speak up about the risks of abolishing them.
ON OUR RADAR:
- Photo ID copy required for absentee ballot. (Still provide either an DL number or the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number (SSN-4) in addition to a copy of a photo ID.)
- Requires an account and multi-factor authentication for using online voter registration system.
- Requires the Secretary of State to provide public access to the Statewide Voter Registration Database (SWVRD) through an interface that allows a search for a particular elector by name and through an interface that allows a bulk data download
- 2nd Hearing (Proponent) took place on March 24.
LAWSUIT FILED:
On April 2, a coalition of voting rights organizations filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging President Trump's March 31 executive order concerning mail-in voting. Read more:
SAVE THE DATE!!
United Way + Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza tours
Monday, April 20th 10:30AM-1:00PM
37 North High Street, Akron
Join us as we tour the United Way facility and hear from their leaders about how they are making a positive impact with the greater Akron “ALICE” (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed) community.
After the tour and discussion, we will have a boxed lunch ($) and, weather permitting, a guided tour of the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza.
To Register and order lunch: HERE
May 5, 2026, Primary Election
Who can vote in Ohio's primary?
> Every eligible voter
> Any voter can vote for candidates in any party
Be sure to register or update your voter registration by Monday, April 6, and even if you've been registered, check to make sure you still are HERE.
Register to vote or update registration
> In Person at the Summit County Board of Elections office until 9 PM on April 6.
> Online HERE
Early Voting starts on April 7
Check out the Early Voting Schedule HERE
CANDIDATE FORUM OHIO SECRECTARY OF STATE
Democratic Candidates
April 20, 2026, 5:30pm
Akron Summit County Library
The Summit County Progressive Democrats are hosting a candidate forum between the two candidates running for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State at 5:30PM on April 20 at the main library
New Ohio Voter Registration Form on Secretary of State's website
In February 2026, Ohio posted a new voter registration form (see below). This re-vamped form highlights in red the sections that must be completed. One change is that in #8, if a registrant possesses an Ohio driver license or state ID, that form of identification MUST be used for voter registration. If not, the registrant may use the last four digits of his or her social security number. Also, the form requires additional information if one is assisting the registrant completing the form.
SAVE THE DATE!!
Getting Involved with Candidate Forums
May 9, 2026, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Location - TBD
LWVAA is hosting training and recruitment for members who are interested in working on or being involved with Candidate Forums. We need a strong crew of trained members due to the increase of Candidate Forums we are being asked to provide. Specifically, we need: Moderators, Timekeepers, and Question Collectors & Screeners.
Join us on Saturday, May 9th for a fun and engaging training and Mock Forum to learn about how YOU can support upcoming Candidate Forums this fall!
A formal invitation and registration form will be sent out in April.
League of Women Voters National Convention in Columbus OHIO!!
June 25-28, 2026
Check out the Convention 2026 website, where you will not only be able to register for Convention but also find information about the event venue, submit a proposal to host a breakout/ caucus session, learn how to sign up for the wares market, access pre-Convention webinar recordings, find a robust FAQ page, and more.
LOOK AHEAD FOR:
- "MESSAGES OF THE WEEK" (email on an upcoming event)
- Zine Folding parties - April 7 (Green) and April 8 (Highland Square Akron)
- Fair Districts-Fair Democracy Huddle - April 8
- United Way - Day of Learning - April 20
- Candidate Forum Democrats for Sec'y of State Ohio - April 20
- Candidate Forum Training - May 9
- LWVUS National Convention June 25-28.
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