2020-57 - Ballot Drop Boxes - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHEREAS, Secretary LaRose's order creates an unjust situation where Cuyahoga County, with a population of over 1.2 million has the same number of drop boxes (one) as Vinton County, with a population of less than 14,000; and WHEREAS, Secretary LaRose's order creates a disparate situation for voters in Ohio, which unfairly burdens voters in communities such as Lakewood thereby violating the spirit of the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and the Ohio Constitution and relevant statutes; and WHEREAS, there is still ample time to implement the deployment of these drop boxes in time for this November's election, which could help our citizens exercise their sacred right to cast their votes safely and efficiently; and WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 2.12 of the Third Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood, this Council by a vote of at least two thirds of its members determines that this resolution is an emergency measure and that it shall take effect immediately, and that it is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public property, health, and safety and to provide for the usual daily operation of municipal departments in that the State of Ohio is under an order of a state of emergency form the Governor and it is imperative to provide assistance to Lakewood's small businesses to help them continue their operations under the orders of the Governor and the Ohio Director of Health and to maintain public safety while doing so; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO: Section 1. That this Council urges that Secretary LaRose immediately reverse his premature and unwarranted order banning off -site secure drop boxes for absentee ballots. Section 2. That this body urges the City of Lakewood Law Department to explore whether a legal action to vindicate the aforementioned voting rights could be brought pursuant to the federal Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act, the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and the Ohio Constitution and relevant statutes, guaranteeing all citizens their precious right to vote. Section 3. That the Clerk of Council is directed to send a copy of this resolution to the City Councils of the other major urban centers of Ohio, Cuyahoga County Council, Secretary LaRose, and Lakewood's state legislators. Section 4. It is found and determined that all formal actions of this council concerning and relating to the passage of this resolution were adopted in an open meeting of this Council, and that all such deliberations of this Council and of any of its committees that resulted in such formal action were in meetings open to the public in compliance with all legal requirements. Section 5. This Resolution is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, safety and welfare in the City