Reply #38: (OH) Blackwell Tells Panel Election Went Smoothly [View All]

Blackwell tells panel election went smoothly

JOHN McCARTHY

Associated Press 21 March 2005

-snip-

The exchanges Monday became heated at times, especially between Blackwell and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a Cleveland Democrat who is not a committee member but sat in with the panel.

Tubbs Jones questioned Blackwell about a telephone message delivered to thousands of voters just before the election to make sure they voted in the correct precinct, especially if they had not changed their registration and needed a provisional ballot. Tubbs Jones wondered why he didn't say in the message that voters had the option to use provisional ballots at their local boards of elections.

Blackwell said, "It worked," several times, his voice rising as Tubbs Jones continued the question. Ohio ranked fourth nationwide in the number of provisional ballots that were validated. Ten days before the election, a judge upheld Blackwell's directive that voters must cast provisional ballots in the correct precinct.

Blackwell also said directives he issued on provisional ballots and voter registration cards that led to complaints about their timeliness were forced by court rulings made just weeks or days before the election.

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http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1007889&tw=wn_wire_story

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