VOTE411 is a website for citizens to look at what candidates are on their local ballot.

VOTE411 is a website for citizens to look at what candidates are on their local ballot.
By Kelly Doran
Editor

The League of Women Voters of Clermont County is making changes to benefit voters and candidates in local elections this year.

The largest change involves VOTE411, a voter guide that allows citizens to get information on candidates, compare candidates and submit questions for candidates to answer, said Marcia Oganowski, who works in voter services for the LWV.

There will be somewhere between 78 and 90 races in Clermont County in November. VOTE411 helps the LWV engage the candidates, Oganowski said. She and other LWV members have been visiting local government and school board meetings encouraging candidates to utilize the website.

Voters can submit questions for candidates by August 5. The LWV will organize and re-phrase questions when necessary before sending the questions on to candidates, who will have to respond by September 15.

This is the second year that the LWV is using VOTE411, but last year the league only used it for two state representatives and the county commissioners races, Oganowski said.

After using VOTE411 last year, Oganowski feels the system is robust, reliable and a good tool.

“I thought it was stable and fairly easy to use,” Oganowski said.

Candidates will be invited to participate in VOTE411 with an email invitation. They can then put their campaign and other information on the website, which will be reviewed by the LWV for appropriateness before being published, Oganowski said. The league does not correct grammatical errors.

Candidates can put a link to their website, biographical information and a link to a YouTube video, which will also be reviewed for appropriateness, on the VOTE411 site, Oganowski said.

When voters get onto the website, they will be able to compare candidates side by side and mark which candidates they plan to vote for. Voters can print that information and take it to the ballot with them, and can share it on social media if desired, Oganowski said.

The league also made changes to the directory pamphlet, They Represent Us.

This year, TRU includes the year for the next election of office, so citizens can easily see who is up for reelection, Oganowski said.

Those interested in a directory can contact the league or get a PDF version at lwvclermont.org under the resources tab.

The LWV is holding the Orpha Gatch Suffragist Dinner on August 25 to raise money so the league can continue to buy a subscription to VOTE411. At the dinner, the LWV will award the Orpha Gatch Citizenship Award to a woman who has done outstanding public service, Oganowski said.

The dinner will be held at Holiday Inn and Suites Eastgate at 5:30 p.m. Make a reservation on the league’s website.

In addition, the LWV is available for forums with candidates. Last year, the league was involved in one at the University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Oganowski said.

In the future, the LWV plans to look into how various government entities disseminate information to citizens, although there are no specific plans as to how the league will look into that yet, Oganowski said. Some governments have found unique ways to disseminate information and she feels it would be beneficial to share that.