A women’s ride to vote rally takes place in Bluffton on Saturday, Oct. 17, sponsored by Allen and Hardin for Election Action and Democracy (AHEAD).

The rally celebrates 100 years of women’s right to vote and features several speakers, according to Wendy Chappell-Dick. The event takes place at 216 W. Elm St., Bluffton, from 10 a.m. to noon. Elm Street will be closed from Lawn to Spring during the rally.

Participants are asked to wear masks and social distance. Following the rally, those with absentee ballots will caravan to their respective boards of election and submit their ballots at the drop box. 

Click here for additional details on the event.

Speakers include:
• Shannon Freshour, Democrat candidate for 4th congressional district
• Georgia Adams, teacher, native American
• Irma Ayers, FLOC representative
• Amber Basares, former marine, founder of Pink Diamond Ladies
• Sabina Clingerman, BHS sophomore
• Micaela Deming, Ohio Domestic Violence Network
• Anayeli Lopez, immigrant, photographer
• Louise Myers, past mayor of Cairo
• Holly Norton, League of Women Voters, Lima, board secretary
• Jill Steinmetz, BHS grad, organized Black Lives Matter event in Bluffton this summer
• Natalie Strayer, financial services professional
• JaMesha Williamson, attorney, United Way Greater Lima, board member

“In January 2017, over a million Americans gathered at rallies across the world to protest Trump’s anti-woman actions in the largest single-day protest in U.S. history,” said Chappell-Dick.

“That included 106 persons who left from Bluffton on two charter buses to participate in the event in Washington D.C.

“Four years later, we want to finish the work begun that day. We ask people to vote early and fight together for the future,” she said. In-person and absentee voting began Oct 6.