Update 5/7/2024: Hello Patriots,

The following are tips to writing effective testimony and the process to submit written Proponent Testimony for      House bill 472:

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Tips for deciding a topic or topics to discuss in your testimony:

• Personal experience or references are the most powerful.

  • If you experienced issues and don't know exactly if or how HB472 fixes is, Contact Us!

• You can use Did You Know and Quick Facts from ohio4truth.com as templates for issues to discuss in the body of the testimony. State a problem with Ohio elections, how it may apply to you, and how HB472 solves the problem.

• Articles of issues from other states and how those issues could happen right here in Ohio if not fixed by HB472, and how HB472 addresses those problems. Many articles are posted on the Home page. Just keep scrolling down. Articles that would be best received would be more mainstream rather than those with a reputation of being right-wing. 

• Please do not include issues in which HB472 does not fix. This bill fixes a lot, but unfortunately does not fix all the issues with Ohio elections, for example: eliminating the voting machines, drop boxes, and limiting mail-in voting is in the bill. 

Read the online articles: How to Give Effective Testimony in Ohio's Legislature Part 1,   Part 2

                                       Complete Guide to Testifying in Ohio House or Senate Committee    

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STEP 1: Download and fill out HB472 Witness Information Form (this form is like a coversheet that contains all your information - the Witness Information Form contains your contact information; your written testimony is public record and should contain only your name):

• Enter your information.

• It is your decision whether you want to state an election integrity organization in which you are involved, or sign as an Ohio citizen. It is good to have a mix of both!

• Bill Number: Enter HB472 Ohio Votes Count Act 

• Specific Issue: State in one line an important issue or issues that HB472 addresses

• Are you testifying as a: Check box for PROPONENT 

• Will you have a written statement to distribute:

  • Check YES  

• How much time will your testimony require? Enter 'written' 

• Brief statement on your position: 

  • If providing a separate HB472 Proponent Testimony document, state so here

  • Save as a WORD or PDF document. 

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STEP 2: Write a HB472 Proponent Testimony letter, one or two pages long.  

You can download HB472 Proponent Testimony Template as a guide.   

• The Introduction and Closing language can be personalized as long as the message stays the same.

• Introduce yourself and any election related activities you are involved in.

• Provide content for your testimony. Most written testimonies fit on one page. 

• Save as PDF document. 

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Read a few samples of Proponent Testimonies here to give you an idea for potential proponent testimonies. 

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It is possible the committee won’t accept written Proponent Testimony until 3 days before a proponent testimony hearing, so you are encouraged to have your 2 forms filled out, saved as separate Word or PDF format documents and wait for further instructions. PROPONENT TESTIMONY MAY BE ACCEPTED AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK! It is possible they will save proponent testimony submitted early, but this is not for sure.  

 

If you wish for your filled out forms to be reviewed, feel free to Contact Us. 

 

Mailing a copy of these forms is not encouraged and may not make it on the committee record.

 

If you subscribe to the Homeland Security Committee mailing list, you will receive committee meeting notices that may have further instructions on when written proponent testimony will be accepted. 

 

TIME IS LIMITED TO PREPARE TESTIMONY!

As soon as we hear when it is appropriate to submit, we will be in touch!

 

Please share and encourage other patriots to prepare but not yet submit proponent testimony. The committee needs to know that We The People of Ohio are aware of the many issues with Ohio’s elections and demand changes so Ohioan’s can be confident our government officials are truly elected by Ohio citizens.

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IF YOU ARE A CONSTITUENT OF ONE OF THESE HOUSE REPS, WE NEED YOU!

These committee members hold a very powerful position in deciding the future of HB472:    

• Haraz Ghanbari: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/haraz-n-ghanbari

• Cindy Abrams: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/cindy-abrams/contact

• Sara Carruthers: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/sara-p-carruthers

• Steve Demetriou: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/steve-demetriou/contact

• Kevin Miller: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/kevin-d-miller

• Phil Plummer: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/phil-plummer

• Rodney Creech: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/rodney-creech

• Thomas Hall: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/thomas-hall

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The chair of the committee, Rep Haraz Ghanbari has the power to call a vote of House Bill 472 by the committee members, or not. He may choose to never call this bill up for a vote by the committee, which means it will never be voted on by all the members of the Ohio House of Representatives. 

 

If the chair decides to call for a vote of the committee, 7 committee members must vote YES to forward the bill to be voted on by all the members of the Ohio House of Representatives. That means 7 of 8 Republicans must vote YES, otherwise, the bill will never be voted on by all the members of the Ohio House of Representatives. 

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There is already talk of amendments to the bill or taking portions of the bill that are acceptable this year and add that language to another bill. The more pressure We The People put on these committee members AND the sponsors, the better chance we have in keeping the most important portions of the bill intact. 

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What can you do if you live in the district of one of these representatives:  

• Coordinate with OEIN leadership or Contact Us to coordinate scheduling a meeting with your House Rep. This is very important! One or more of the Ohio citizens most familiar with the bill would like to share information with House Reps at this meeting. Even if you aren't comfortable talking, all you have to do is introduce yourself as a constituent of the representative concerned with Ohio's elections and we can take it from there.  

• If you can’t meet personally, send them an email that can go over the same issues as in your written testimony or different issues if you prefer. Optionally, a day or two later, call to ask if they received your email and if you can schedule a phone meeting to discuss further where you can personally ask for their support.

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"If not now, then when? If not me, then who?" - JFK