Click Here to View Brown & Taft’s PSA    

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) spoke with the Columbus Dispatch about the new PSA that he recorded with former Ohio Governor Bob Taft (R-OH) urging young, healthy Ohioans to step up and become poll workers in order to help America vote. There is a shortage of volunteers this year due to the pandemic, and Ohioans who sign up would be helping their communities and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard this November.   

The two former Ohio Secretaries of State are also encouraging those wishing to cast their vote via absentee ballot to request their ballot now. The deadline for the Board of Elections to receive absentee ballot requests is at noon, three days before the election. With the October 31st deadline rapidly approaching, it’s important Ohioans go to www.vote.org/ohio to complete the fast and easy process now.

The Dispatch story can be found here and below:

 

Political odd couple Bob Taft, Sherrod Brown team up to seek poll workers 

By: Randy Ludlow 

October 22, 2020 

After three decades, Sherrod Brown and Bob Taft still disagree on many things, but harbor no grudges.

The Republican Taft toppled the two-term incumbent Democrat Brown to win election as Ohio secretary of state in 1990. Broke joked Wednesday about the lone loss of his political career.

"I would say the wrong guy won, but it was one of those things that happen in politics," Brown quipped.

Both went on to do okay for themselves, with Taft becoming a two-term governor beginning in 1999 and Brown serving in the U.S. Senate since 2007.

Now, the pair of former chief Ohio elections officers have teamed up in a bipartisan bid to recruit young adults to serve as poll workers in the pandemic-afflicted Nov. 3 election by recording a public service video posted to YouTube and social media.

"We know our election depends on poll workers" with many older, long-time poll workers opting out this year due to the coronavirus pandemic," Brown said in a call with Taft and reporters. "We need everyone to do their part ... and help Ohio vote."

Taft echoed Brown's remarks while both also called on Ohioans — who are casting record numbers of early in-person and mail ballots — to use early voting opportunities.

"A lot of these races are going to be very close, and Ohio could be pivotal in the presidential election," Taft said. "This is a year when your vote can count and make a difference."

Asked for whom he is voting for president, Republican incumbent Donald Trump or Democrat Joe Biden, Taft sidestepped the question. "Today we are not here to promote any candidate," he said. Brown, of course, is a Biden backer.

In his last update, current Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said that while more than 53,000 poll workers have signed up to work on Nov. 3, nearly 7,000 more were needed, including more than 500 each in Franklin, Hamilton and Summit counties.

Earlier on Wednesday, Brown participated in an online forum conducted by ProgressOhio, a progressive nonprofit, about problems with Ohio's unemployment system and the prospect of new federal funds to supplement state benefits.

Brown said he was not optimistic that the Republican-ruled Senate would act to restore a $600-a-week federal unemployment supplement that expired at the end of July.

"I wish I had better news," Brown said, expressing his belief Democrats will take enough seats to gain a majority in the Senate and vote in January to provide additional jobless benefits and coronavirus aid for schools and local governments.

Brown called the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the "incompetent" response of Trump, the "worst time of our lifetimes ... the only way out is new leadership."

The state unemployment rate fell from 8.9% in August to 8.4% in September, but remains above the national average of 7.9% with 472,000 Ohioans out of work — nearly twice the number from a year ago.

Claims for unemployment benefits show the recovery may be stalling. About 21,000 Ohioans filed claims in the latest reported week, an 8% increase. Nearly 1.8 million Ohioans have sought jobless benefits this year, more than the last four years combined, swamping the antiquated state filing system.

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