Daily Kos: Ohio sets up one early-voting system for Republican counties, another for Democratic coun

[geefloyd46]

As a consequence, Republicans cut early voting back for the upcoming election from 35 days to 11 days, with the three days right before the election eliminated.

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.

‘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.
Say what? Unequal access for the boards? It's unequal access for voters at issue, sir. But you knew that.

To repeat: Republicans in wealthier suburban districts will be able to vote at night, on weekends and other off-hours during those 11 early balloting days. Working-class Ohioans, Democrats or leaning that way, will find that early-voting hours in their counties are more likely to be available when they're on the job and can't get away. Which, of course, goes counter to the purpose of early voting.

fuller story: http://laborspains.blogspot.com/2012/08/daily-kos-ohio-sets-up-one-early-voting.html

original story: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/09/1118341/-Ohio-sets-up-one-early-voting-system-for-Republican-counties-another-for-Democratic-counties

[femmocrat]

1. This has to be illegal. Rachel covered it tonight, too.

Calling Eric Holder........

[HeiressofBickworth]

2. I've looked at the Department of Justice website

at the listing of voting rights lawsuits. The most recent Ohio filing (2008) was against a school district for the manner in which they elect members of the school board. No listings for a voting rights act violation against any location in the state of Ohio for voting rights violations like the ones mentioned in the OP. So where is Eric Holder? Apparently not in court. He has made speeches about upholding the voting rights act but that's just talk. WHERE IS THE ACTION? Time is running out. He's hitting my list of the most useless Attorneys General in recent history.

[callmegina]

3. This is an EMERGENCY - where is the administration???

Let me get this straight:

1957: President Eisenhower federalizes the Arkansas National Guard, sends 1,000 troops to Little Rock...so that some African American children can walk safely to school.

2012: Ohio politicians conspire to violate the federal Voting Rights Act, less than 100 days before a national Presidential election, in partisan ways that can quite possibly swing the entire result and, for thousands of legally registered voters, suppress their Constitutional right to cast a ballot. Washington appears surprised, paralyzed, self-doubting, and silent.

Our President took an oath to protect and defend our Constitution. This is a crisis that has to be dealt with decisively, and NOW. Obama should already be directing the Pentagon to make contingency plans, should judicial efforts prove too slow or unworkable, to federalize the Ohio National Guard and order them to keep the polls open for early voting across Ohio, at identical hours, so that all legal votes can be cast and counted honestly in this election.

Afterwards, a thorough investigation can find and hold publicly accountable the officials who organized this criminal conspiracy to violate civil rights. But the sanctity of the election and the ballot must be preserved at all costs.

If we want to continue to have a democracy in this country, the people and our leaders must have the will to put their lives on the line and fight for it.

[Thomas3d]

7. Boots on the Ground

I agree. They have to do something about this and we have to remind them why. Whatever it takes!

[jberryhill]

8. Where? In court, fighting the Ohio early-voting restrictions

That's where.

[Warren DeMontague]

4. I have trouble believing that's constitutional.

Jesus.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. 'course, this could severely bite them on the ass if it becomes big news.

telling people they can't vote might make a bunch of them try extra hard to make sure they do...

[Thomas3d]

6. Defend our Democracy

We have to bring this message to the fore front in the news and keep it going. I agree with what was said about what President Obama could and should do concerning the Ohio National Guard and the voter booths. I am a veteran and I strongly believe that even though I am no longer in the military, I took an oath to protect OUR country from enemies both foreign and DOMESTIC! I will pass on this message as much as possible to as many people that I can. Great post by the way. Thank you.