600,000 Black Votes "Missing" in Ohio? OLBCF Launches Statewide Initiative to Build a Community Driven Policy Agenda

Today the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation released the State of Black Ohio: Voters’ Voice – Pilot Brief. Alongside the report, OLBCF is launching a statewide survey to transform community lived experience into a concrete legislative agenda. 

The Pilot Brief summarizes initial findings from Cleveland’s Central neighborhood and provides a framework for a statewide push focusing on: 

• Community Priorities

• Advocacy Tools  

• Direct Impact 

The U.S. Census Bureau reveals a massive gap in civic participation: while there are approximately 1.04 million Black eligible voters in Ohio, an estimated 600,000 do not vote in typical midterm elections. OLBCF is moving to close this gap by centering the "Voter’s Voice" in the state’s policy-making process. 

“Black Ohioans hold massive untapped civic power—yet 600,000-plus voices remain silent in typical elections,” said Shayla L. Davis, President & CEO. “This is power left on the table. Our Pilot Brief takes what residents said in the room and turns it into practical steps for building the State of Black Ohio Policy Agenda. We aren't just identifying problems; we want the community to build the roadmap to solve them.” 

“The initiative seeks to turn local concerns into a statewide mandate," said Clifton R. Williams III, Board Chair of OLBCF. “By listening directly to Black Ohioans and elevating their lived experiences, we are strengthening democracy and ensuring that policy decisions reflect the voices of those most impacted. This work is about accountability, representation, and building lasting civic power across Ohio.”  

OLBCF is calling on all Black Ohioans to help set the agenda: 

• Read the Brief

• Support the Movement

• Take the Survey

• Host a Session: invite OLBCF to present to your organization, contact office@olbcfoundation.org.