Ohio State Representative Alicia Reece (D-Cincinnati) is taking a stand against voter intimidation billboards. According to a press release from Reece’s council, the billboards warn, “VOTER FRAUD IS A FELONY!” when there is little to no evidence that voter fraud is a widespread problem in Ohio. The ads have been allowed to run anonymously throughout the state, claimed only by a private family foundation.
“We are asking the Outdoor Advertising Association of Ohio to work with the anonymous sponsors of the billboards to have them removed immediately,” says Reece. “It’s obvious that the billboards are designed to intimidate voters and leave some wondering if merely voting is now a crime.”
The billboards have been strategically placed in African American and low-income neighborhoods.
“It’s sad that we have to fight against voter intimidation billboards when voters are already struggling to understand the ever changing election law directives from our Secretary of State. Maybe it would be more productive to have billboards announcing early voting hours,” added Rep. Reece.
David Singleton, Executive Director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, Rev. Doc Foster, President of the Cincinnati Baptist Ministers Conference and Rev. Nelson Pierce with the AMOS project, along with other Hamilton County clergy have joined Reece in opposition to the billboards.
