(CLEVELAND, OH, 8/17/23) – On Thursday, August 11, the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) joined the Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates (NOVA) and community members for a meeting with Cuyahoga County Corrections Center Jail (CCCCJ) administrators to discuss incarceree voter rights and procedures.
The meeting was initiated in preparation for the November 2023 election. According to NOVA, volunteers have registered voters in the Cuyahoga County Jail since 2010. Voter registration has been offered in this jail since 2000 and between 2010 and 2018, NOVA was permitted to do in-person registration without requiring detained voters to sign up in advance.
In 2020, due to the pandemic and public health concerns, NOVA switched to video visits in lieu of in-person registration and the turnout declined significantly. In 2022, NOVA was allowed to resume in-person registration, but voters had to sign up in advance. According to NOVA data, this reduced turnout by 50%. In 2022, 58 people voted from the jail compared to 115 in 2018.
NOVA and CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland along with community members met with jail administrators to discuss ways to increase voter participation and voter information amongst the inmate voter population.
Interim Executive Director of CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland, Faten Odeh said, “As a civil rights organization, ensuring every voter has the ability to exercise their right to vote and access to the information in order to make informed decisions for our democracy is an essential value of CAIR.”
NOVA board president, Meredith Hellmer, lead organizer Maddie Haughton, volunteer Barbara Marburger, CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland’s Faten Odeh and community voter rights advocate Katrice Williams met with Associate Warden Jennifer Frame, Warden Michelle Henry, Chief of Corrections Dale Soltis, and Sheriff Harold Pretel.
NOVA board president Meredith Hellmer said: “I was pleased that the Sheriff took time to come.”
If interested in helping voters register at CCCJ this September, please contact NOVA at info@nova-ohio.org.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh, 216.830.2247, fodeh@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.744.7726, ihooper@cair.com