Do you remember 2004?  I do. And so do most Ohioans.

We remember waiting hours to vote using antiquated punch cards or broken machines, and a complete failure of our election system to work on behalf of us, the citizens. It was a failure of the promise of enfranchisement. 

Now Ohio Republicans want to return to those days.  They want to undo all of the progress that we have made as a state – by limiting early vote and eliminating “Golden Week”, by ending voting the weekend before Election Day, by making it more difficult to request a ballot, and by making it harder for those who want to exercise their right to vote in person. Republicans are not proposing these measures because there is something broken in our voting system – they are proposing these measures because we’re doing things right!

We have fought hard to expand and protect the rights of every Ohioan – often having to go to court to defend our right to vote from the Republicans holding office in our state.

But we can protect our vote by registering our neighbors, demanding an early vote period that helps working families, and by showing up in November for candidates that support access to the voting booth.

Tell the Republican Legislature that we will not go back to 2004. Join me and the Ohio Democratic Party to make sure that we keep moving Ohio forward.

Nina Turner is the Minority Whip of the Ohio Senate, and represents District 25, which includes the city of Cleveland. She is running to become Ohio’s next Secretary of State.

South Carolinians are known for our strong opinions — on sports, weather, politics, even BBQ. As a native of the Palmetto State, my friends, family, and neighbors share their opinions with me just about every day. And that has been my favorite part about traveling around the state as I run for the United States Senate — hearing directly from the people.

Unfortunately, South Carolina Republicans have repeatedly tried to make it more difficult to hear the opinions of us citizens. They are attempting to silence our voices by playing politics with our most fundamental right — the right to vote.

In few states has there been a harder fight for the right to vote than in South Carolina. The Department of Justice has intervened in over a hundred election laws through the Voting Rights Act over the years, including a voter ID bill. Thats why, when the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, many attorneys thought the court got it wrong.   

But after my initial disappointment in the Supreme Court decision, I quickly remembered the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement and what comes naturally to all South Carolinians — to organize our neighbors, to mobilize our communities, and to make our voices heard. I decided that I was going to share my opinion with anyone and everyone who would listen.  And I want you to join me.

Contact your state Democratic Party today and find out what you can do to help register and educate voters in time for this year's election. It is too important to wait.

Rick Wade is a small business owner and former Senior Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff to the U.S. Department of Commerce. He served as the Director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services from 1999 to 2002, and is currently running to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate.

In honor of Black History Month and Rosa Parks' birthday, we celebrate the many times she stood for fairness and equality — and changed our nation along the way.

This is the month we honor the many contributions African Americans have made to our nation. Through centuries, African Americans have fought courageously for their rights and the rights of others, charting a path toward equality and freedom that has brought our nation closer to the promise of a more perfect union.

But this is also a month to reflect on what progress can be made if we work together. Every child deserves a quality education, no matter where they live. Every person must have access to affordable health care and housing. And to honor the promises enshrined in our Constitution, we must remove any shadow of discrimination that prevents any person, regardless of race, from getting a job or casting a ballot.

These are the promises Democrats have fought for and we will continue to work toward with purpose, knowing they are true to America’s fundamental values.