Ohio rejects 1000s of voter registration applications on wrong paper.

State law requires a certain paper be used on voter registration applications. The (need I say it) Republican Secretary of State has recently decided to enforce that law, potentially disqualifying 1000s.

There is a diary in Kos about it. It is unbelievable.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/27/112229/106

at the Ohio SOS office.

I haven't been to Columbus for years.

matter but I will if I have to!! :grr: :bounce: x(

http://www.southwest.com
about $95 from Baltimore and other east coast cities.

:)

since that seems to be an acceptable and perfectly legal practice in disputing election procedures.

</sarcasm>

This shit has to be stopped.....NOW! I'm in the mood for a riot! :grr:

Thats me in the upper right, I now have new friends.

GOP values at their best!

Suppress the vote -- get a reward.

Disgusting.

Taft can't run again because of Ohio term limit laws -- no individual can serve more than two consecutive terms. This is all about Blackwell getting name recognition so he can run for governor.

Bob Taft's name should be listed as an entry for "insipid" and "ineptitude" in Websters. He almost makes Dubya look good by comparison.

Somehow, I just can't see a black man like Blackwell making out too well because he keeps people off the voter rolls. :eyes:

Can anyone say "Florida 2000"?

but he is a Republican.
Need I say more?

that AT MINIMUM, the disqualifications are 2-1 Democratic apps being disqualified.

At minimum, like the Bushevik Phony Felons List in Florida, it might be 2,200-1 for Democratic applications "disqualified" versus the handful of Republican forms thrown in for "plausible deniability" for the corrupt Bushevik Party.

There's only a handful of counties in Ohio that will be using electronic voting, and it's not Diebold machines in those counties. Blackwell lost his opportunity to jiggle the vote to Shrub that way -- so disqualifying registrations now is their only hope.

If they get by with this what can the people do? I don't know why I am surprised by this since everything the Repubs do is illegal.

.......these are registration application forms that were printed in the Cleavland Plains Dealer newspaper.

I know the Ohio GOP is up to its neck in statehouse scandals - I can't believe they can get away with this as well.

If this is indeed true, I'll be interested to see the type of Dem response this generates, and if the Repug SoS will back off.

I have a hunch this will be, how shall we say, "looked at again."

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1096191056165960.xml

Any Election Day confusion could be most worrisome for Democrats: The New York Times reports today that the bulk of new registrations in Ohio have been in heavily Democratic areas.

Election boards across the state have hired extra staff members, extended working hours, or both. Some boards are processing cards 24 hours a day.

"It's like Florida 2000, only before the election," said Dan Tokaji, an election-law specialist and assistant law professor at Ohio State University.

The big counties seem to have it worst.

because I re-registerd in Ohio using a form I printed off the internet - folded it and put a stamp on it and got a voter card back indicating I'd been reregistered.

if not then there is no case here.

and, yeah, break down the damn doors in Ohio if need be.

Isn't democracy wonderful?

we have no idea of how crooked this cabal is

The neanderthals will stop at nothing....

Then they're trying to steal the election.

80pd paper? where is the copy of the the specs sent to the printer? where are the press run reports on what paper the roll tender put on the press? sounds like a screw up at the printer or an "omission" from the sec of states office...i work in the printing industry-there`s a paper trail from the s-s office to the person who puts on the roll.....

it's as simple as that.

"a dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier"

Well, actually, there against anyone speaking up in any form, vote, or poll, or letter to the editor, if they're not a Repuke....

it's as simple as that.

are punished for it)

get involved if this creep purges the rolls. This is blatant disenfranchisment. This Blackwell person has his marching orders from someone. I wonder who? This must not stand. We must not give up our representative democracy to thieves and criminals.

and doesn't mind disenfranchising African Americans

all the way to the Supreme Court. That worked for us SO well in 2000, didn't it? :eyes:

We're screwed if this stands.

guide@sos.state.oh.us

Mailing Address:
J. Kenneth Blackwell
Ohio Secretary of State
180 E. Broad St. 16th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

General Telephone Number (Toll Free): 1-877-767-6446
General Telephone Number (Local): 1-614- 466-2655


Client Service Center:
30 E. Broad St.
Lower Level
Columbus, OH 43215


Questions or problems with the Campaign Finance Database, or general Campaign Finance questions or comments:
email: cfinance@sos.state.oh.us
call: 614-466-3111

Elections questions or comments:
email: election@sos.state.oh.us
call: 614-466-2585

Business Services questions or comments:
email: busserv@sos.state.oh.us
call: Local: 614-466-3910
toll free: 1-877-SOS-FILE
1-877-767-3453

Notary Commission
email: notary@sos.state.oh.us

Publications request:
email: prequest@sos.state.oh.us

General questions or comments about this Web site:
email: guide@sos.state.oh.us

Questions or problems with the Web site:
email: Webmaster@sos.state.oh.us

was told to call 614.466.3205. When I called the 3205 number, I got a machine so I left a message. The woman I spoke to at the 3910 number said they were getting lots of calls about this and she'd have to look into it herself because she didn't know what people were talking about. I filled her in and she was outraged. She said she was going to call and complain also.

course, she may not work there much longer but its a wonderful thing.
kerry can hire her i bet - they need some more good people working on the campaign in ohio!

It is unconscionable to deny duly registered voters an opportunity to vote over a minor government mistake.

Don't be this year's Florida. Accept the paper ballots as is.

America will be watching carefully.

There is no need to fear a true democracy.

The ACLU of Ohio Foundation
4506 Chester Ave
Cleveland OH 44103
Phone: 216-472-2200
Fax: 216-472-2210

contact@acluohio.org

blackwell@sos.state.oh.us

...but I will. Let's just drop the pretense that we're still living in a democracy. What the hell is next? Poll tests?

What's more, fellow Buckeyes, Blackwell will probably be the top contender for Doofus Taft's job in another year or so.

Makes me want to move. :puke: :nuke:

I don't think he is going to like it.

www.electionprotection.org

23.

This is it, folks. They are pulling out the stops to STEAL ANOTHER ONE!!!

I don't live in Ohio, but THIS IF THIS ISN'T GODDAMN EVIDENCE THAT BUSH AND HIS DEVIL-WORSHIPING CULT OF THUGS ARE MARCHING US INTO FASCISM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

People, this may be the last shot we have. They got away with it in 2000. They're becoming more blatantly obvious about it this year. Who's to say we get a next time? Who's to say this won't be the last election held in this country?

We've got to fight this while we still can. THESE SCUM-SUCKING REPTILLIAN BASTARDS WILL STOP AT NOTHING, AND WE HAVE TO FOLLOW SUIT IF WE'RE GOING TO VOTE THEM OUT OF POWER.

<Mike Malloy>HAVE I MENTIONED TODAY HOW MUCH I HATE THESE PEOPLE?</Mike Malloy>

They KNOW DAMN WELL AND GOOD, if people turn out to vote, they lose in a fucking landslide.

FUCKING EVIL BASTARDS ARE SET TO STEAL IT AGAIN!!!!!

Just repulsive! Can anyone DO anything abut this? Did anyone inform the Kerry Campaign?
:kick:

We on the Left are Democracy's defenders.

. . .I knew it was you even before I saw your name at the bottom of the post. May the Great Sky Spirit BLESS YOU!!!

the Kerry people or the DNC about this?

on my PC and it never said "only on certain type of paper"

WTF!!!!!!!

I wonder if it's computer applications. These people are just beyond belief. I just can't understand the kind of partisanship that has regular Americans standing behind this crap. There's just no words for this.

We need to get this message out, and QUICK. If this is true, Kerry/Edwards also need to jump on it.

If the state requires a certain type of paper for voter registration forms, then that state has NO BUSINESS allowing Internet registration of voters.

This is outright fraud to say you can register on the Internet and then disqualify your registration because standard printer paper isn't the right "weight."

I better stop before I blow.:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:

:shrug:

We all knew these dastardly people were going to try to pull this kind of crap.

It even sounds like they might get arse kicked in during the process

Ohio is ripe to go blue


http://www.sba.gov/oh/cleveland/counties.html

here's his email:

tellus@johnkerry.com

Here?

only one person answered last check, gonna check again
:kick:

They know.

of my displeasure on this matter. I also told him I notified the NAACP and various other Civil Rights groups which I did about this problem of possible voter disenfranchisement. I urge all others here to also contact the Ohio Secretary of State and all the Civil Rights groups especially the NAACP immediatly if not sooner to remedy this situation now before it's to late to re-register.:mad: :dem:

thats it right there. hes right on that one

And I hadn't thought of this one before. They do accuse their external enemies of hating us for our freedoms an awful lot.

http://www.mcboe.org/

there's a link "am I registered?" you can find out relatively quickly if your registration is intact. I assume there are similar sites for all the various counties.

Ohio action violates Voting Rights Act

:headbang:
rocknation

Never mind--I finally got it to work. At first it kept reopening this thread. I don'tknow why.

We need to watch out keep our eyes out for what happens on the other side while this news gets out. Remember the 2000 riots that stopped the recount.

straight to Ohio to straighten this mess out pronto. If not, I would want to know the reason why. I remember them saying they had lawyers all over the country in place to challenge any voting matter that would interfere with fair elections. Get on the stick, legal team.

I think they are trying to lie to them about what is really happening in order to get a riot going like in 2000. This is why look at the post they have already started one day before this happen.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1227681/posts?q=1&&page=1

aaron.brown@turner.com, 360@cnn.com, candy.crowley@turner.com, crossfire@cnn.com, jeff.greenfield@cnn.com, deirdre.walsh@turner.com, live@cnn.com, robert.novak@turner.com, wolf@cnn.com, wam@cnn.com, imusshow@yahoo.com, ed@kfgo.com, brit.hume@foxnews.com, friends@foxnews.com, Hannity@foxnews.com, Colmes@foxnews.com, jim.angle@foxnews.com, ontherecord@foxnews.com, special@foxnews.com, studiob@foxnews.com, myword@foxnews.com, oreilly@foxnews.com, joe@msnbc.com, Lesterholt@msnbc.com, countdown@msnbc.com, mtp@nbc.com, nightly@nbc.com, today@nbc.com, miller@nytimes.com, liberties@nytimes.com, krugman@nytimes.com, letters@time.com, bduffy@usnews.com, wshapiro@usatoday.com, politics_desk@upi.com, and letters@usnews.com

I have the radio one from the CBS affilates to....

This is just the most outrageous thing yet!
:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

There must be. Their own little circle of Hell that they can share with the Neocons and the Unholy Extreme Religious Right.

:argh: and :kick:

Hekate

nt

HTF people would even know if they registered on the correct paper or not. When I registered, last thing on my mind was that I have to weight the freaking paper for my registration to stand!
:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

For those in OHIO, people who registered THIS YEAR have to be told this information.

HOW?
:kick:

The problem is people don't know their registration has been tossed out. Therefore, they don't know to re-register on the correct paper.

Send it directly to the SoS's office with a note: Is that thick enough for you?

Maybe Michael Moore will do it!

Mike? Are you up to it?

...which of course is the whole point of this despicable exercise. These godless, soulless Rovite bastards don't care if this (or anything else they do) is illegal, immoral, causes cancer, or gets thrown out of court. The only thing that matters to them is that it works just long enough for them to get their way.

That's why we need allies from everywhere to make a stink: ACLU, NAACP, Kerry campaign, Libertarians, Greens, and on and on and on. Since many people used voter reg forms that were printed in the newspapers, I sincerely hope that the newspaper owners, editors, and boards will join wholeheartedly in the making-a-stink process -- with banner headlines.

Hekate
:argh:

already. They are threatening to REVOKE the registrations.

Welcome to DU.

There is no time to re-register. Furthermore, what they are trying to do violates Voter rights acts. Some lawyers need to get on it fast and make them to accept registrations as they are!

It seems to have frozen. Surly this story couldn't have slowed it down that much?

...but came through in not-too-unreasonable time.

No person acting under color of law shall . . . deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election.

42 U.S.C. 1971
http://www.thecre.com/fedlaw/legal6/uscode42-1971.htm

......From http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com/oh/lpExt.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=PORC

Chapter 3503. Voters - Qualifications; Registration.

http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com/oh/lpExt.dll?f=FifLink&t=document-frame.htm&l=jump&iid=1913020e.684d5f46.0.0&nid=153f7#JD_3503

Section 3503.08. Registration supplies;rules.

http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com/oh/lpExt.dll?f=FifLink&t=document-frame.htm&l=jump&iid=1913020e.684d5f46.0.0&nid=15501#JD_350308

§ 3503.08. Registration supplies; rules.

The board of elections shall provide such printed forms, blanks, supplies, and equipment and prescribe such reasonable rules as are necessary to carry out sections 3503.06 to 3503.32 Å of the Revised Code.

HISTORY: GC § 4785-36; 113 v 307(322), § 36; 114 v 679; 119 v 265; 122 v 325; 124 v 673; Bureau of Code Revision, 10-1-53; 129 v 392 (Eff 5-4-61); 134 v S 460 (Eff 3-23-72); 137 v S 125. Eff 5-27-77.


Section 3503.13. Registration forms, records.

http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com/oh/lpExt.dll?f=FifLink&t=document-frame.htm&l=jump&iid=1913020e.684d5f46.0.0&nid=15509#JD_350313

§ 3503.13. Registration forms, records.

(A) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, registration forms shall consist of original and duplicate cards or loose-leaf pages as prescribed by the secretary of state. When such registration forms have been filled out and filed in the office of the board of elections, the original forms shall be filed together in one file and the duplicate forms shall be filed together in another file. Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, the original forms shall be filed by precincts and shall constitute the precinct register for use in polling places on election day. The duplicate forms shall be filed alphabetically and shall constitute the permanent office record of the board. It shall not be removed from the office of the board except upon the order of a court.

(B) Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law, the registration records shall be open to public inspection at all times when the office of the board is open for business, under such regulations as the board adopts, provided that no person shall be permitted to inspect such records except in the presence of an employee of the board.

(C) The board of elections of a county that adopts or has adopted electronic data processing for the registration of qualified electors of the county may use a single registration form complying with the requirements of division (A) of this section. The information contained on the form may be duplicated on punch cards, magnetic tape, discs, diskettes, or such other media as are compatible with the data processing system adopted by the board and may constitute the permanent office record in lieu of the duplicate registration card.

(D) Instead of using the original registration forms as the precinct register in the polling places on election day as provided in division (A) of this section, a board of elections that has adopted electronic data processing may use a legible digitized signature list of voter signatures, copied from the signatures on the registration forms in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary of state, provided that the board continues to record and maintain at the board office the information obtained from the form prescribed under section 3503.14 of the Revised Code, and provided that the precinct election officials have computer printouts at the polls containing any necessary information specified by the secretary of state that would otherwise be available to them on the registration forms.

HISTORY: GC § 4785-41; 113 v 307(324), § 41; 118 v 223; 122 v 325; Bureau of Code Revision, 10-1-53; 134 v S 460 (Eff 3-23-72); 137 v H 86 (Eff 8-26-77); 137 v S 125 (Eff 5-27-77); 137 v H 1209 (Eff 11-3-78); 140 v H 402 (Eff 3-19-84); 143 v H 36 (Eff 1-1-90); 144 v H 182 (Eff 4-9-93); 145 v S 300. Eff 1-1-95.

Section 3503.19. Methods of registering or changing registration; mailing of confirmation or rejection notice.

http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com/oh/lpExt.dll?f=FifLink&t=document-frame.htm&l=jump&iid=1913020e.684d5f46.0.0&nid=15515#JD_350319

§ 3503.19. Methods of registering or changing registration; mailing of confirmation or rejection notice.

(A) Persons qualified to register or to change their registration because of a change of address or change of name may register or change their registration in person at any state or local office of a designated agency, at the office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, at a public high school or vocational school, at a public library, at the office of a county treasurer, or at a branch office established by the board of elections, or in person, through another person, or by mail at the office of the secretary of state or at the office of a board of elections. A registered elector may also change the elector's registration at any polling place where the elector is eligible to vote, on election day.

Any state or local office of a designated agency, the office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a public high school or vocational school, a public library, or the office of a county treasurer shall transmit any voter registration application or change of registration form that it receives to the board of elections of the county in which the state or local office is located, within five days after receiving the voter registration application or change of registration form.

An otherwise valid voter registration application that is returned to the appropriate office other than by mail must be received by a state or local office of a designated agency, the office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a public high school or vocational school, a public library, the office of a county treasurer, the office of the secretary of state, or the office of a board of elections no later than the thirtieth day preceding a primary, special, or general election for the person to qualify as an elector eligible to vote at that election. An otherwise valid registration application received after that day entitles the elector to vote at all subsequent elections.

Any state or local office of a designated agency, the office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a public high school or vocational school, a public library, or the office of a county treasurer shall date stamp a registration application or change of name or change of address form it receives using a date stamp that does not disclose the identity of the state or local office that receives the registration.

Voter registration applications, if otherwise valid, that are returned by mail to the office of the secretary of state or to the office of a board of elections must be postmarked no later than the thirtieth day preceding a primary, special, or general election in order for the person to qualify as an elector eligible to vote at that election. If an otherwise valid voter registration application that is returned by mail does not bear a postmark or a legible postmark, the registration shall be valid for that election if received by the office of the secretary of state or the office of a board of elections no later than twenty-five days preceding any special, primary, or general election.

(B) Any person may apply in person, by telephone, by mail, or through another person for voter registration forms to the office of the secretary of state or the office of a board of elections. Completed registration forms may be returned in person or through another person to any state or local office of a designated agency, to a public high school or vocational school, to a public library, or to the office of a county treasurer, or in person, through another person, or by mail to the office of the secretary of state or the office of a board of elections.

(C) A board of elections that receives a voter registration application and is satisfied as to the truth of the statements made in the registration form shall register the applicant and promptly notify the applicant of the applicant's registration and the precinct in which the applicant is to vote. The notification shall be by nonforwardable mail, and if the mail is returned to the board, it shall investigate and cause the notification to be delivered to the correct address; or if it determines that the voter is not eligible to vote for residency reasons it shall cancel the registration and notify the registrant, at the last known address, of a need to reregister. If the board does not accept the application for registration, it shall immediately notify the applicant of the reasons for rejecting the application and request the applicant to provide whatever information or verification is necessary to complete the application.

If a notice of the disposition of an otherwise valid mail registration application is sent by nonforwardable mail and is returned undelivered, the person shall be registered and sent a confirmation notice by forwardable mail. If the person fails to respond to the confirmation notice, update the person's registration, or vote in any election during the period of two federal elections subsequent to the mailing of the confirmation notice, the person's registration shall be canceled.

HISTORY: 145 v S 300 (Eff 1-1-95); 146 v H 99. Eff 8-22-95.

They damn well better be notifying people if they're rejecting applications! :evilgrin:

But the people will miss the registration deadline, which is October 4th. This is just absolutely disgusting.

We have finally reached the point in our society where a black man is telling white folks they can't vote.

Harvey Briggs

telling black folks they can't vote.
:eyes:

Ken Blackwell is listened to.

Blackwell's directive violates federal law which requres a "material" reason not to register someone to vote.

The federal law is:
42 U.S.C. 1971.

No person acting under color of law shall . . . deny
the right of any individual to vote in any election
because of an error or omission on any record or paper
relating to any application, registration, or other
act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is
NOT MATERIAL in determining whether such individual is
qualified under State law to vote in such election.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

I'm glad you have the luxury of taking your rights and others' rights so lightly...It puts you in the same category as W laughing and joking about his inability to find Weapons of Mass Destruction.
(http://www.musicforamerica.org/misc/media_files/bushjoke.mov) Hahaha see the irony?

Sorry, joker, when people like myself have registered over 300 new damn voters in the past six months you can take your fucking pathetic sense of humor and recognition of irony somewhere else. We have an election to win and it will be taken away from us if we don't take it seriously and adamantly.

Choke on your own herbal tea please. Paret? It's par-"rot" as in "rot" in Hell.

Cheers and laughs on November 3...there's work to be done.

JusticeForALL

The man is spinning in his grave right now.

:kick: HELP! I need help finding the exact law Blackwell is citing about the "80 lb paper stock" requirement! I can't find any mention of it in Ohio Title XXXV Election Code. He may be attempting to use a local 'printing specification' for the forms printed by the state and portraying it as the law!

If anyone in Ohio can help clue me in I would appreciate it! :evilgrin:

Please post it here or PM me the details. There's a free beer in it for you in the lounge! :beer: :toast:

It's just the most ridiculous thing ever. Somebody has to sue him and fast!

.....we need to know the legal basis for his actions. :evilgrin:

I'm not sure it will help, but...

the actual directive (none / 0)

I'm not sure that this is such a major issue. It says that FEC forms downloaded can be printed on regular paper. Besides downloading and printing and the PD thing, can someone give examples of what kind of registrations forms would be at issue?
DIRECTIVE NO. 2004-31
September 7, 2004

TO: ALL COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Members, Directors and Deputy Directors

I. VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS - LINE 1 AND 2
In accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), the Ohio voter registration form was revised to meet the new federal requirements, which included adding the following questions that the applicant must answer affirmatively in order for the form to be processed:


Are you a U.S. citizen? Yes No

Will you be 18 years of age on or before the next general election? Yes No

The prescribed form also contains the following affirmation:
"I declare under penalty of election falsification I am a citizen of the United States, will have lived in this state for 30 days immediately preceding the next election, and I will be at least 18 years of age at the time of the general election."
The Elections Assistance Commission (EAC) recently issued an opinion that a state may choose to honor the affirmation of citizenship and age, even if the applicant did not check the "yes" boxes for questions 1 and 2. Therefore, I am instructing county boards of elections to accept otherwise valid voter registration applications even if the applicants did not check the "yes" boxes. Please inform all staff processing voter registrations of this important change of instructions.

II. VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS - PAPERWEIGHT

We have received numerous questions concerning the paperweight of the Ohio voter registration form. The form prescribed by the Secretary of State must be printed on white, uncoated paper of not less than 80 lb. text weight. Any Ohio form not printed on this minimum paperweight is considered to be an application for a registration form. Your board should mail the appropriate form to the person listed on the application.

However, this office cannot dictate the paperweight of the federally prescribed voter registrations forms: the on-line Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and the "national" form prescribed by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Both of those forms may be printed on regular weight (e.g. 20 lb) white paper.

If you have any questions on this directive, please call my Elections Division at 614-466-2585.

Sincerely,

J. Kenneth Blackwell

Ohio Secretary of State Blackwell is telling precincts to throw out voter registrations which aren't on 80 lb. stock paper.

This is blatant disenfranchisement, in violation of federal law:

42 U.S.C. 1971.

No person acting under color of law shall . . . deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is NOT MATERIAL in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election.


Please fight for the voting rights of the people who filled out their voter registration on normal paper. More information is at:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/27/112229/106

doing it.

k. lol. gotta cook diner first

This isn't just about the presidency in Ohio. There is a traditional marriage amendment in Ohio that some (ie freepers) hope will spur voters to the polls:

. . .the anti-gay-marriage amendment, known as "Issue 1." Forbes stressed the connection between his two 2004 causes: "Somewhere there is someone who is inclined to support President Bush but isn't active. This amendment becomes the call to action."

That was the theory as Republicans in this battleground state pressed for the vote on gay marriage to coincide with the presidential election. (Similar amendments are on the November ballot in 10 other states, but, among them, only Michigan and Oregon are in play in the battle for the White House).

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/shapiro/2004-09-26-hype_x.htm

So if you have a guy who removes 1000 voters from the polls and another coalition pushing the right wingers to vote, Ohio is lost.

Smart people those republicans. . .I understand why they are making gay marriage the hot button issue--to bring the non voters to the polls (not to swing the existing voting population).

it is civil unions, et al of ALL kinds, including heterosexual civil arrangements. It is an ammendment to deny legal rights and benefits to ANY OTHER type of partner as well. As a matter of fact, it has been listed as one of the most restrictive ammendments to date...horrible stuff.

nt

The email address of Ohio Voting Officials include:
boe@co.franklin.oh.us, mcboe@montcnty.org, summit@sos.state.oh.us,lucas@sos.state.oh.us, sciortino@cboss.com,lorain@sos.state.oh.us

Message

Please do not follow Ken Blackwell's directive to only
process voter registrations on 80 pound paper stock.

This directive violates the 1971 Voting Rights Act,
which requires a "material" reason not to register
someone to vote.
-----------------------------------------------
42 U.S.C. 1971.

No person acting under color of law shall . . . deny
the right of any individual to vote in any election
because of an error or omission on any record or paper
relating to any application, registration, or other
act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is
NOT MATERIAL in determining whether such individual is
qualified under State law to vote in such election.
---------------------------------------------

There is no valid reason for this directive. The
original purpose of the law was to make sure voter
registrations sent as postcards were heavy enough to
make the trip though the mail, but any voter
registration which reaches you has already made the
trip.

Please uphold federal law, the 1971 Voting Rights
Act, by processing everyone's voter registrations.

I am replying to information at:
http://www.daytonforkerry.com/Blackwell.pdf

cross-posting your letter to:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x906005

nt

This is the point where a pack of Democrat lawyers needs to descend on Ohio to make sure these people stay registered.

BUT continue to put pressure on ... for example, Cuyahoga County (around Columbus)has already gotten a special dispension from Blackwell, and the forms downloaded from the Fed site have to be accepted, according to the archived Dayton Leader article with this link: http://www.daytonforkerry.com/Blackwell.pdf

CALLING ROSEBUD ... what do you know on the ground there in SW Ohio?

There is no word that any other area received a special dispensation. The question is why would any area comply?


They are required to comply with federal law, there is no doubt about it.

Sounded to me like Cleveland just told KB to take the high hard one and that they were going to comply with fed. law.

I doubt we'll be so lucky in Cinti and Cowtown (particularly if the BOE guy is still the same one I knew - GOP party hack). I'm betting all or most Rethug controlled counties will go along with him, unfortunately.

I don't think KB backed off so much as he knows he can't FORCE Cuyahoga to disenfranchise people - some Fla officials blew off Harris' BS in 2000, as well.

Cuyahoga County is in the north eastern part of the state which includes Cleveland and surrounding areas.

interactive ohio map for updated census/population numbers
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/ohio_map.html

and this interactive map from the NYT that shows the relative voting distribution from 2000; the map defaults to oregon, but just click on "ohio" or any other state
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/politics/2004_ELECTIONGUIDE_GRAPHIC/index_SWINGSTATESOR.html

Was told that this effort to nullify Blackwell's ruling is being staged by a "bunch of crackpots".

This is the typical machine at work, attack the messenger so the message doesn't get addressed.

This means we are getting to them.

of the United States of America because some of our basic intrinsic rights are being violated by a bureaucratic shithead by the name of J. Kenneth Blackwell. BeachBuckeye, this is outrageous that this kind of thing can happen in America, and to make matters worse, it's happening in probably the most important battleground state other than Florida. I know you will be on top of this and when you let loose on Saturday, please do not hold anything back!

.....:evilgrin:

Secretary of State of Ohio
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell,

I'm requesting information from your office regarding your recent decision to reject Voter Registration Applications based on the weight of the paper used for certain forms delivered in a timely manner to certain Ohio County Registrars offices.

First, I am requesting to know what statute under Ohio Title XXXV makes the use of "80 lb. paper stock" a "legal requirement" for acceptance of a registration form.


Second, I would like a comment from your office detailing instructions given to the County Registrars Offices to satisfy requirements of Title XXXV, Chapter 3503, Section, 3503.19, Paragraph (C) which states that,

"(C) A board of elections that receives a voter registration application and is satisfied as to the truth of the statements made in the registration form shall register the applicant and promptly notify the applicant of the applicant's registration and the precinct in which the applicant is to vote. The notification shall be by nonforwardable mail, and if the mail is returned to the board, it shall investigate and cause the notification to be delivered to the correct address; or if it determines that the voter is not eligible to vote for residency reasons it shall cancel the registration and notify the registrant, at the last known address, of a need to reregister. If the board does not accept the application for registration, it shall immediately notify the applicant of the reasons for rejecting the application and request the applicant to provide whatever information or verification is necessary to complete the application."

Third, I respectfully request comment from your office justifying the apparent conflict of your actions with Federal Voting Rights Act legislation as spelled out in 42 U.S.C. 1971 which stipulates in part that,

"No person acting under color of law shall . . . deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election."

I am respectfully making this request directly to your office so as to promptly and properly inform our membership as to your reasoning and justification of this action. The sooner I can publish factual information from your office about this issue, the better for all involved.

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this request.

Pat X. XXXXXX
Charter Member, Black Box Voting.org
(http://www.blackboxvoting.org is a Registered 501 (c) (3) non profit voting rights organization)

I'll publish any response I get but please excuse me if I don't hold my breath while I wait! :)

pp. KUTGW

Four years ago, this kind of story would have flown right under the radar until after the election -- just like the voter list purging that was done in FL.

Now, however, we have a vibrant and active blogger community so that we can go after this kind of thing well in advance of Election Day. Trust me, this guy will cave if we succeed in getting the word out. If he doesn't, he will have his head handed to him by the courts.

We now have the tools to win -- we just have to make sure we use them.

This is obviously a situation which calls for it - due to KB's "belated" decision to invoke this old law, thousands will be deprived of their right to vote in a federal election, and no later determination that the deprivation was incorrect will be able to restore that right to them.

It will start as a preliminary injunction to prevent the state from disenfranchising these voters. Whether the votes will be counted along with the others will be an interesting question - they may be forced to vote provisional ballots, which could then be held aside until the judge makes a determination on the merits...

Unfortunately, provisional ballots puts it back in KB's court - he already issued a mandate contrary to HAVA that basically says ANY problem with a provisional ballot means the whole thing gets tossed. If the questioned registrants are forced to vote provisional ballots, it will allow the Rethugs another opportunity to throw the votes away.

KB is an evil rat-bastard (and that's being kind).

they will have plenty of time to resolve it before the election, I would think.
It defiently breaks the Voter rights act.
:grr:

voter registration is true. kerry and the dnc needs to get on this yesterday.

Who knows what will happen to those who wait until Monday? Will Ohio discover some long forgotten law that requires a day's notice before you can register?

Practical solution: Without rioting or being violent, as many newly registered voters as possible should line up at their nearest registrar's office/the Secretary of State's office and camp out until they have made sure, in first, person that they are registered to vote. I realize that is impossible for people who have to work -- but if someone is not working, they should be sure to go in person. It is important to physically demonstrate how Republicans try to prevent people from voting. Also, people could demonstrate in front of the registrar's offices and demand that the offices be kept open all weekend so people can register to vote.

This reminds me of the voting tests that were given to African-Americans in the pre-civil rights era.

Their registrations are going to be nullified if this is not stopped, and THEY DON'T KNOW THIS.

by skunky wazoo
Mon Sep 27th, 2004 at 21:32:26 GMT

All right, people. This shit is not funny.
"The head of a company vying to sell voting machines in Ohio told Republicans in a recent fund-raising letter that he is "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year."

The Aug. 14 letter from Walden O'Dell, chief executive of Diebold Inc. - who has become active in the re-election effort of President Bush - prompted Democrats this week to question the propriety of allowing O'Dell's company to calculate votes in the 2004 presidential election.

O'Dell attended a strategy pow-wow with wealthy Bush benefactors - known as Rangers and Pioneers - at the president's Crawford, Texas, ranch earlier this month. The next week, he penned invitations to a $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser to benefit the Ohio Republican Party's federal campaign fund - partially benefiting Bush - at his mansion in the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington.

The letter went out the day before OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE KEN BLACKWELL, also a Republican, was set to qualify Diebold as one of three firms eligible to sell upgraded electronic voting machines to Ohio counties in time for the 2004 election."

(Snip)

The Republicans will stop at nothing to win Ohio this year. We are talking about large scale Florida-style disenfranchisement and voter fraud. It is my sincere belief that the very future of democracy is at stake in Ohio this election.

We have one advantage this year in that these facts are known BEFORE the election. We can coordinate a response to these GOP dirty tricks. We need election monitors and media coverage at all major polling places. We need people filming vote tallies with videocameras as the numbers are entered into Diebold's database so that we have irrefutable PROOF that the software has been hacked as it was in Florida. And most importantly, we need to make people aware of exactly what is going on. We need to make sure that people who have registered to vote are allowed to vote and we have to make sure their votes are counted. We need to write letters to editors, e-mail media outlets and journalists, and get people off their asses before this election is stolen. John Kerry and John Edwards need to loudly and publicly address this issue.

We need to fight back. The backlash to this blatant fraud could very well win us Ohio and the election.

but i didnt realize that bastard from Diebold lived in Upper Arlington. i may have to get a few of my fellow OSU students to stage a little protest...


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

Who needs Florida’s Kathleen Harris when Ohio has J. Kenneth Blackwell?

....snip....
2) A nonpartisan Cleveland Coalition told Blackwell on July 29 that “many voters who thought they were registered have not received notification.” They asked him to inform voters so they could take timely action to prevent possible disenfranchisement. On Sept. 2, the issue was posed to his office as an emergency after a Cleveland Study began documenting that thousands of Ohio voters might be compromised.

Only in the wake of news articles and a letter-writing campaign did his office finally agreed to advise voters, one week before the registration deadline, that they had better check if they are registered, and re-register if necessary.

3) In an October 2002 Plain Dealer article, Blackwell acknowledged that public assistance agencies were not following their federally mandated obligation (PL 103-31) to notify all public assistance applicants that they could register to vote at that agency. Yet, instead of providing resources and technical assistance to agencies struggling with frozen or reduced state funding, Blackwell complained he was not given the means to fine them for non-compliance.

Since then, many such agencies have tried valiantly to provide some voter registration, but Blackwell has failed to monitor their efforts and provide resources so that the federal mandate, for which he is responsible, can be carried out.

4) Blackwell was sued because 21 Ohio counties were wrongly informing ex-felons that they had no right to vote. Blackwell’s office agreed on Sept. 3 to inform all ex-felons of their voting rights in time for the registration deadline but has now backed out of the agreement on a distorted technicality.
....snip....

http://www.caseohio.org/CaseOhio/BlackwellsOhiosHarris.htm

in the morning.


Sick.

We need to jam his phone/fax lines and email his office like mad!

I just tried to, but my e-mail is completely FUBAR!!!

:argh:

That's one!

:kick:

How can the repugs do this stuff to the country? My dad said to me this is what will happen like it did in 2000. I hate this cheat stuff. I don't understand all of it becuase I am still in high school. This is wrong. Who can help us make this ok?

:hi::bounce::hi:

It's definitely unethical and unamerican. I'm sure they'll be taking it to court, and a judge will hopefully put a stop to this. We are in uncharted waters right about now, but I think we're gonna make it.

Hang in there, OK???

And again, glad to have you aboard!!!

:yourock:

I'm afraid we only have ourselves to depend on anymore .

Welcome Underground you have teammates here that will
help in the great task before us in making it right .

:hug:

voters in Ohio must not be allowed. Over at Free Republic they are freaking out over the word disenfranchisement. They are really getting worried about it. So we need to keep using the word DISENFRANCHISEMENT of minority voters and middle class Democratic voters. I really believe it is turning into a class war between the Working and Minority classes against the Capitalist and NeoFascist Right-Wing forces in this country. I really hate to say it but it looks a Civil War is looming in this country soon. I hope everybody has their arsenal ready I sure do. And they think people on the left are wimpy pacifists they on the right are going to be in for a big surprise if they try what they did in Florida in 2000 in Ohio and other key states in this 2004 elections. I am sure alot of people on this site and around the country agree with me on this if so post your replies so I know we as a group will not let this happen again,I'm seriously fed up with all this crap.:kick::kick:

Nader to appear on ballot based on technicalities and the
Oregon supremes upheld that decision.

adams@sos.state.oh.us,allen@sos.state.oh.us,djay@velocity1.net, athens@sos.state.oh.us,jburklo@auglaizecounty.org,BdofElections@cs.com,brown@sos.state.oh.us, mosketti@butlercountyohio.org, carroll@sos.state.oh.us,champaig@sos.state.oh.us,clark@sos.state.oh.us, clermont@sos.state.oh.us,vote@cinci.rr.com, columbia@sos.state.oh.us, coshocto@sos.state.oh.us,crawford@sos.state.oh.us,cuyahoga@sos.state.oh.us, darkeboe@yahoo.com, defiance@sos.state.oh.us,delaware@sos.state.oh.us, erie@sos.state.oh.us,fairfiel@sos.state.oh.us, fayette@sos.state.oh.us, franklin@sos.state.oh.us, fulton@sos.state.oh.us, gcboe@aceinter.net,voter@mail.core.com, cgarman@co.greene.oh.us, guernsey@sos.state.oh.us,hamilton@sos.state.oh.us, bdelections@co.hancock.oh.us, hardin@sos.state.oh.us,harrison@sos.state.oh.us,henry@sos.state.oh.us, highland@sos.state.oh.us,hocking@sos.state.oh.us,holmes@sos.state.oh.us,kabrady@accnorwalk.com,brdelect@zoomnet.net,jcboe@sbcglobal.net, knox@sos.state.oh.us,elections@lakecounty.org, lawrence@sos.state.oh.us,licking@sos.state.oh.us, elections@co.logan.oh.us, lorain@sos.state.oh.us, lucas@sos.state.oh.us, madison@sos.state.oh.us, sciortino@cboss.com, elections@marion.net, medina@sos.state.oh.us, meigsboe@frognet.net,mercer@sos.state.oh.us, miami@sos.state.oh.us, monroe@sos.state.oh.us,mcboe@mcohio.org, morgan@sos.state.oh.us,morrow@sos.state.oh.us,muskingu@sos.state.oh.us, noble@sos.state.oh.us,ottawa@sos.state.oh.us, paulding@sos.state.oh.us,perry@sos.state.oh.us,pickawayboe@dragonbbs.com, pike@sos.state.oh.us,portage@sos.state.oh.us, pcelect@infinet.com, putnam@sos.state.oh.us, boardofelections@mansfieldohio.net, rossboe@horizonview.net, sandusky@sos.state.oh.us,scioto@sos.state.oh.us,seneca@sos.state.oh.us,scbdelec@bright.net, boe@co.stark.oh.us, summit@sos.state.oh.us, norma@tcvote.com, tuscaraw@sos.state.oh.us, union@sos.state.oh.us, vanwert@sos.state.oh.us, vinton@sos.state.oh.us,johnsr@co.warren.oh.us, washingt@sos.state.oh.us, votewayne@sssnet.com, williams@sos.state.oh.us,dhazard@co.wood.oh.us, wyandot@sos.state.oh.us,

If the law says voter registration must be done on certain official forms, would'nt it have to be upheld in courts?
So, the only thing that will work here is to get the law
changed. Not sure if there is enough time. But IMHO that is the only sure fire way.

I know - a difficult concept for some. Kind of like A comes before B...

... I believe the saying in the area in Indiana I grew up in was "a mind is a terrible thing."

The only story about Blackwell is the one regarding prvisional ballots. No mention that I saw of this purge of the rolls relating to incorrect paper. We need to make it happen.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1096363888102440.xml

I think the bizarre rules "enforcement" is intended to disqualify all registrations people sent in on a registration form the Plain Dealer printed as a public service.

"How dare a newspaper encourage people to register to vote?!"

http://www.caseohio.org/CaseOhio/BlackwellsOhiosHarris.htm

Who needs Florida’s Kathleen Harris when Ohio has J. Kenneth Blackwell?


Ohio Secretary of State Blackwell’s actions and inactions have deprived large numbers of Ohioans of the right to vote. Blackwell claims “we need an election system that assures every vote counts and every voice is heard …” (June 16, 2003). The truth is, many of his omissions and commissions work to disenfranchise the poor, the young, and minorities.


1) In the 2000 Presidential election, about 90,000 Ohioans were disenfranchised because of voting errors, including approximately 76,000 due to punch-card errors. The error rate was far higher in wards or counties with low-income people. For instance, the discard rate in the city of Cleveland was 1 in 25 vs. the wealthier suburbs with a discard rate of 1 in 50.


Blackwell knew all this after November 2000, and must have known that these high percentages of voter errors were considered “unacceptable” in a 2001 National Commission on Federal Election Reform report.


This July 29 and Sept. 2, citizen groups reminded him and told about the Los Angeles elections of 2001, in which intensive voter education and checking of punch-card ballots before counting halved the number of discarded votes. Yet he did nothing until this week, when growing public criticism forced him to promise at last a voter education campaign .


2) A nonpartisan Cleveland Coalition told Blackwell on July 29 that “many voters who thought they were registered have not received notification.” They asked him to inform voters so they could take timely action to prevent possible disenfranchisement. On Sept. 2, the issue was posed to his office as an emergency after a Cleveland Study began documenting that thousands of Ohio voters might be compromised.


Only in the wake of news articles and a letter-writing campaign did his office finally agreed to advise voters, one week before the registration deadline, that they had better check if they are registered, and re-register if necessary.


3) In an October 2002 Plain Dealer article, Blackwell acknowledged that public assistance agencies were not following their federally mandated obligation (PL 103-31) to notify all public assistance applicants that they could register to vote at that agency. Yet, instead of providing resources and technical assistance to agencies struggling with frozen or reduced state funding, Blackwell complained he was not given the means to fine them for non-compliance.


Since then, many such agencies have tried valiantly to provide some voter registration, but Blackwell has failed to monitor their efforts and provide resources so that the federal mandate, for which he is responsible, can be carried out.


4) Blackwell was sued because 21 Ohio counties were wrongly informing ex-felons that they had no right to vote. Blackwell’s office agreed on Sept. 3 to inform all ex-felons of their voting rights in time for the registration deadline but has now backed out of the agreement on a distorted technicality.


5) The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) mandated “Provisional Ballots” so voters whose eligibility is in doubt would be able to vote and later have their legitimacy verified. Blackwell promised on June 13, 2003 (HAVA State Plan) that his provisional ballot policies would be “weighted more towards inclusion … than challenges and exclusion” and would “…accommodate every voter who, for whatever reason, does not appear on the certified list of registered voters in any jurisdiction…”




Then, Sept. 16, 2004, Blackwell decreed that anyone showing up at the wrong precinct would be denied the right to vote (unless they found their way to the correct precinct). All very well for middle- or upper-class people, who could determine and drive to the correct precinct. But what about low-income voters, who are not listed correctly on the rolls, have two jobs to support their family, or kids in day care, or no car, or confusion about their polling place, or who can only show up very late? Thanks to Mr. Blackwell, they are out of luck!


Blackwell claims he is only following Ohio law, but federal law applies at least for federal votes. The Ohio League of Women Voters has roundly criticized his narrow and draconian interpretation of Ohio law. Many of these misdeeds disproportionately impact youth, minorities, and persons with low income, in part because they move more frequently than the rest of the population.


If you believe that elections should be credible and fair, let Blackwell know that his actions are un-American and unacceptable -- that he must immediately reverse his prejudicial deeds, make voter requirements truly inclusive, and provide serious education on voting rights and punch-card usage.

and each stated that their jurisdiciton was counting all registrations they received. Here's the texts...

SUMMIT: "All weights of paper registrations are being processed by Summit County."

STARK: "Thank you for your email regarding paperweight of voter registration forms. Please be advised that the Stark County Board of Elections does not reject any registration form based on the weight of the paper."

My subject line was: DONT LET OHIO 2004 BECOME FLORIDA 2000.

very good suggestions and links in this kos thread about latest GOP GRTV (Get Rid of The Vote) campaign:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/27/15373/2892
(no idea if this link will link, so sorry if not).

This is beyond unthinkable. Someone storm Blackwell's office before he gets the shredder running, please!

contact@acluohio.org

Sign the petition at ACT (America Coming Together)

http://act04.org/paperstock

to the printing company that had the bid on printing the actual blank registration forms. This sounds to me like one of the state's requirements when it sends out invitations to bid on state printing.
I used to get these from the state of Ohio some years back and they always stipulate what type and weight of stock must be used as well as a myriad of other stipulations. If this is the case then this determination of Blackwells does not apply to any registrations that have been sent in on any other media.

What is appalling is that an African American of all people (Blackwell) would actively try to disenfranchise voters in violation of the Federal Voting Rights Act.

He needs to sit down and read the history of the African Americans who fought so hard and sometimes gave their life to have a right to vote.

He can start with Martin Luther King's Letter from the Birmingham Jail.

a traitor to African Americans and he needs to be called to task on it he's a discrace.:grr:

Blackwell has no shame - he's been this way for 20 years and won't change.