Help Us Get Trusted, Nonpartisan Election Information into Our Community!

Every fall, the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus (LWVMC) produces and distributes tens of thousands of copies of our Voter Information Bulletin (VIB), a free, nonpartisan newspaper-style voter guide for the November General Election.

Our VIB is the printed version of the League's online voter guide, VOTE411.org, making important election information accessible to community members who prefer or need a printed resource.

With the help of our volunteers, we distribute these guides throughout Franklin County at libraries, nonprofits, coffee shops, local businesses, community centers, and outreach events.

What's Included in Our Voter Information Bulletin?

Our VIB provides voters with information about the candidates, ballot issues, and voting processes that affect their communities. Each election cycle, our Board, Voter Services Committee, and Advocacy Committee work together to develop questions for candidates running for local offices in Franklin County.

To ensure a fair and nonpartisan process:

• All candidates running for the same office receive the same questions. Questions are tailored to the responsibilities of each office, such as judicial questions for judicial candidates.
• Candidates are invited to participate and receive reminders before a firm publication deadline.
• Candidate responses are published without editing. The answers come directly from the candidates, not the League.
• Our printed guide includes the first two candidate responses, along with brief biographical information, campaign websites, and contact information.
• We also include nonpartisan information about ballot initiatives, important election dates, voting requirements, and trusted voter resources.

LWVMC coordinates outreach to local candidates, while the League of Women Voters of Ohio coordinates outreach to statewide candidates. Our goal is to provide voters with accessible, unbiased information so they can make their own informed decisions at the ballot box.

How Can Volunteers Help?

Each year, our printed voter guides typically arrive in late September, just ahead of the November General Election. That's when we need volunteers to help get them into the hands of community members! Distributing voter guides is a simple, flexible volunteer opportunity that makes a big difference. No previous experience is required!

Here's how it works:

1. Sign up for a distribution location. Choose a participating community location and the number of voter guides you're willing to deliver.
2. Get further details. The Operations Manager will reach out once the guides are delivered and ready to be picked up!
3. Pick up your guides. Meet the LWVMC Operations Manager at the designated distribution pickup location to collect your copies.
4. Deliver your guides. Bring the guides to your assigned library, nonprofit, business, or community partner so voters can access them.

Whether you can distribute a small stack or several boxes, your support helps us reach more voters across Franklin County.

Sign Up to Distribute Voter Guides!

Volunteer opportunities are posted each fall when our printed guides are ready for distribution.

Sign Up for Voter Guide Distribution

Want to Help Behind the Scenes?

There's much more that goes into creating our Voter Information Bulletin than printing and distributing it! We're always interested in connecting with volunteers who would like to support the planning and production of the guide, including:

• Contacting candidates and following up on questionnaire submissions.
• Helping organize and prepare candidate information for publication.
• Creating graphics and assisting with the guide's layout and design.
• Connecting with local organizations, businesses, and community partners interested in distributing guides.

If you'd like to get more involved, contact Sophia Lombardo, Operations Manager, at vote [at] lwvcols.org to share your interests.

Thank You to Our Volunteers!

Our Voter Information Bulletin is one of the most important ways we provide free, trusted election information to our community. We couldn't make it happen without the volunteers who help create, prepare, and distribute these guides every year.

Thank you for helping us put nonpartisan voter information directly into the hands of our community members and empowering more informed voters!