Meredith Hellmer News Today

Cleveland’s principal voter advocacy group, Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates, gained approval in mid-September to canvass cell blocks and help inmates register to vote and request mail-in ballots. The pandemic, jail staff shortages, and the lack of a clear policy governing advocate access meant this was the first time NOVA entered the jail since 2018.

As the November 2022 elections approach, volunteers from many organizations are expanding registration efforts around the area, trying to bulk up Cleveland’s already strong registration rolls and bolster weak turnouts.