Say Hello to the Ohio Official Who Might Pick the Next President

[swag]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/10/say-hello-to-the-ohio-official-who-might-pick-the-next-president/264201/#

by Andrew Cohen

. . .

As Secretary of State, Husted is Ohio's Chief Elections Officer, representing all registered voters in a position that cries out for nonpartisan governance. The state's law and policies offer platitudes about how election officials "play an important role in our democracy" by ensuring "their neighbors can vote with ease on Election Day, while helping to safeguard the process so all Ohioans can have confidence in the results." You can find these lofty pronouncements on Husted's office website.

I guess it all depends upon what your definition of the word "confidence" means. Husted wants his constituency, the state's conservatives, to be "confident" that the state is cracking down on voter fraud, even though there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Ohio or anywhere else. But taking away early voting rights from Ohio citizens has nothing to do with voter fraud. Nor does discounting provisional ballots cast mistakenly as a result of a poll worker's error. These are voter suppression efforts in their purest forms.

Now turn the word "confident" around. By law, Husted is supposed to represent all voters. Given his public pronouncements and litigation over the past year, what confidence should minority voters in Ohio have that their votes will be counted under Husted's direction? Think of all the time and energy he has spent in the state trying to make it harder for people to have their votes counted. Now think of what Ohio's election might look like if the state's chief elections officer had devoted that time and energy to ensure broad voting rights.

Last week, the New York Times' Nate Silver predicted that Ohio had a 50-50 chance of deciding the election. Why should America trust Jon Husted to neutrally oversee Ohio's voting process? What has he done in the past year to earn this trust? Speculation suggests that Husted has his sights on higher political office. Well, he's got what every starry-eyed local pol wants when he dreams of bigger things: a national audience. In fact, the whole world is watching, and waiting, to see if this man can meet his moment and do the right thing.

[EC]

1. I think Nina Turner is going to

keep a very close eye on him. At least I get the impression that Nina and the rest of the Dems are watching this time. During the days of Blackwell, Dems were not on it. They didn't seem to think Blackwell's efforts would amount to much. I'm sure they know better now.

[liberal N proud]

2. I have no confidence that this tool will oversee a fair election

He has done everything he can and will continue to do everything he can to help republicans get elected in Ohio.

This Ohioan will not trust this election with this current SOS.

[FarPoint]

3. Husted will not serve the voting public.

He serves the master of the Republican Party and to all that this implies . He wants to be noticed and important in my opinion.

[Proud liberal 80]

4. The Federal Government needs

to take over and oversee Federal Elections. I am tired of Republican Secretaries of State stealing them.

[Doctor_J]

5. UN should be in OH, not TX

Texas is no hope. OH will go for the president if the votes are counted.

[limpyhobbler]

6. oh my, Jon Husted as the next Katherine Harris,

let's try to avoid that.

[Bill USA]

7. recommended