Fortunately, one can expect lawsuits to stop this from being truly implemented.Now, in heavily Democratic cities like Cleveland, Columbus, Akron and Toledo, early voting hours will be limited to 8 am until 5 pm on weekdays beginning on October 1, with no voting at night or during the weekend, when it’s most convenient for working people to vote. Republican election commissioners have blocked Democratic efforts to expand early voting hours in these counties, where the board of elections are split equally between Democratic and Republican members. Ohio Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted has broken the tie by intervening on behalf of his fellow Republicans. (According to the Board of Elections, 82% of early voters in Franklin County voted early on nights or weekends, which Republicans have curtailed. The number who voted on nights or weekends was nearly 50% in Cuyahoga County.)
"I cannot create unequal access from one county board to another, and I must also keep in mind resources available to each county,” Husted said in explaining his decision to deny expanded early voting hours in heavily Democratic counties. Yet in solidly Republican counties like Warren and Butler, GOP election commissioners have approved expanded early voting hours on nights and weekends. Noted the Cincinnati Enquirer: “The counties where Husted has joined other Republicans to deny expanded early voting strongly backed then-candidate Barack Obama in 2008, while most of those where the extra hours will stand heavily supported GOP nominee John McCain.” Moreover, budget constraints have not stopped Republican legislators from passing costly voter ID laws across the map since 2010.
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Ohio - Separate Voting Rights For Democrats (Less) And Republicans (More)
Interesting news. Seems in Ohio, when back in 2004, lots of people did not vote because of the excessively long lines, sort of fixed that problem for the 2008 election. Except, Obama took the state, so in 2010, the Republicans in the state, decided it would be a good idea to allow liberal voting rights for those districts that are primarily Republican, but restrict voting rights for those districts that are primarily Democratic.
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4 comments:
There should not be any early voting allowed anywhere. Election day is election day if you go to the polls, or you can apply for an absentee ballot. It's that simple. And one should definately have to present a valid government issued photo ID to vote.
Well that does not exactly address the post, Tony. Do you agree that in Ohio, the Republican districts should be open weekends and at night, but in the Democratic districts, there are not open on weekends and the polls are only open 8 to 5 during the week?
No I do not think any district should be open any other time then normal election day hours, usually 6am to 9 pm on election day. Early voting is ridiculous as far as I'm concerned and should be haulted everywhere. If you cannot make it to the polls on election day you need to plan ahead and apply for an absentee ballot. I thought my comment was clear.
Well it was clear insofar as your ideology as to voting but it was not clear as to the post regarding Ohio. Glad to get your clarification.
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