Constitution Day, voting and your voice: A conversation at Heidelberg

What does the Constitution mean for young adults today? How do constitutional rights shape the way Americans vote, participate in government, and engage with issues that matter to their communities?

Heidelberg University will bring those questions to the forefront on Constitution Day with A Conversation on the Constitution, featuring Ohio Rep. Allison Russo.

Russo, a fourth-term member of the Ohio House representing District 7, will join Heidelberg Student Senate President Shannon Petrulis for a conversation about the Constitution, voting rights, and the role of citizens in a democracy. Russo previously served as Minority Leader of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus from January 2022 through June 2025.

The event is set for 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in Seiberling Gymnasium and is sponsored by Heidelberg’s Student Engagement office.

The conversation will explore constitutional questions facing Americans today, the importance of voting and civic participation for young adults, and how constitutional rights are interpreted, protected, and enforced.

With Ohio voters preparing to consider Issue 3 on the Nov. 3 ballot, the discussion will also touch on the proposed constitutional amendment concerning photo identification requirements for voting. The Ohio Secretary of State’s office confirms that Issue 3 would add a photo ID requirement to the Ohio Constitution if approved by voters.

Following the conversation, Student Engagement will host a voter registration station, giving attendees an opportunity to take a practical step toward civic participation.

More about Allison Russo

(from Ohiohouse.gov)

Russo represents Ohio House District 7, which includes Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, and portions of Columbus. She currently serves as the ranking member of the Financial Institutions Committee and as a member of the General Government Committee. She also serves on the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.

During her legislative career, Russo has focused on issues including health care access, public health and safety, financial security for family caregivers and aging adults, public education, working families, and health care affordability. She previously served as ranking member of the House Health Committee and on the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee, Finance Committee, and Finance Health and Human Services Subcommittee. She also served on the Ohio Redistricting Commission and co-chaired the bipartisan Legislative Children’s Caucus.

Before joining the Ohio Legislature, Russo spent more than two decades advising government leaders and policymakers on health care financing and care-delivery issues affecting seniors, vulnerable populations, veterans, and military families.

Russo holds a doctoral degree in health policy from The George Washington University and a master’s degree in public health epidemiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.