Little more than two weeks ago I sent out an email to our supporters about the "Coingate" political scandal, which has exposed how Ohio's top politicians have been exchanging political favors for campaign contributions. But the scandal goes much deeper, threatening democracy in the Buckeye state in a culture of systematic political corruption. These threats include:

• The Ohio General Assembly voting to increase the amount wealthy donors can give to their campaigns by 400percent, allowing candidates to accept contributions of $10,000,
• Partisan gerrymandering of legislative and Congressional districts allowing self-interested politicians to chose their voters, while tens of thousands of voters are left disenfranchised,
• Partisan politicians administering elections in which they have a direct interest, while voters are left with insufficient access to the polls and unsure if election results are accurate.

We need to end this culture of political corruption today. In the wake of the deplorable Coingate scandal, the new $10,000 contribution limits and an open door to corporate contributions, Ohio needs real campaign finance reform today. After years of entrenched partisans designing districts with reelection in mind more than the interests of voters, Ohio, needs redistricting reform. And, following historically long lines and frustration with Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell serving as both chief administrator of Ohio's elections and state chair of the Bush-Cheney campaign, Ohio needs election reform.

That's why we need your immediate help today to qualify and pass a ballot initiative of three common-sense reforms that will rights these wrongs and reduce corruption in Ohio. We have just 20 days to get these reforms on the ballot, and we must gather 450,000 signatures from Ohio voters by August 1, 2005. I am asking you today to help us qualify these measures for the ballot by collecting 10, 20 or 100 signatures today. Please use our action center to email your friends, family, anyone you know in Ohio, and help put an end to the culture of corruption in Ohio:
http://www.commoncause.org/OhioTellFriends

Together, these three measures will:

• Limit campaign contributions to $2,000 for statewide candidates and $1,000 for legislative candidates, ban corporate contributions and require full disclosure of contributions,
• Create a truly Independent Redistricting Commission, preventing politicians from creating their own legislative districts, from making closed doors redistricting decisions, and requiring the creation of competitive legislative and congressional districts
• Establish an independent state elections board, removing partisan politicians from the administration of state elections and allowing Ohioans to vote early and vote by mail, ensuring easy and equal access to elections.

So help us sign up Ohio residents to advocate for these measures today and invite everyone else you know in Ohio to join our cause to reform the Buckeye state. These are solid, common sense reforms that Ohioans favor, but we have to work hard to get them on the ballot this fall. Will you sign up to volunteer for the campaign? We need signature-gatherers to do our part for reform and help collect 450,000 signatures by the end of July. Please boost the efforts of our Ohio signature gathering team today.