Ohio Secretary Of State Rules Out Scanning Absentees Early

[OhioChick]

Spokesman: Law Bans Counting, Scanning Ballots Early

The state said counties can't start tallying absentee ballots before Election Day, despite worries that some local election boards could be overwhelmed by record numbers.

Some boards have pressed for permission to scan absentee ballots early while holding off counting the actual votes. But Secretary of State spokesman James Lee said Ohio law doesn't allow ballots to be counted early or even scanned ahead of time.

A new state law that took effect this year allows anyone to vote early by absentee ballot, and many counties are expecting to set absentee records this year.

Cuyahoga County is expecting more than 100,000 absentee ballots this year. There were fewer than 48,000 cast two years ago.

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/10160187/detail.html

[xotrueblueox]

1. Time for a new Secretary of State

I think it might be time for a new secretary of state in Ohio.

Jennifer Brunner might be a good choice.

<http://www.21stcenturydems.org/candidates/profile/brunner_jennifer>

I also checked her website and she has a mailing list <http://www.jenniferbrunner.com/>

Also, for all you Jennifer fans, if you want to donate to her campaign check out <http://www.jenniferbrunner.com/contribute.shtml>

[newyawker99]

11. Hi xotrueblueox!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[pinerow]

2. Ohio Secretary of State rules out election...film at eleven!

in an interview today, the Secretary of State claimed that elections are too important to be left up to the people of Ohio, so he will make it easier for them by declaring himself, "Ruler for all Time"...:sarcasm:

[Eurobabe]

3. I think it might be time to fucking FIRE the current asshat!!!

And not a minute too soon....my damn overseas ballot better be counted. I went through too much trouble to fill out forms, etc. for them to round file this!!

I WANT A DAMN RECEIPT THAT MY VOTE WAS COUNTED!!

[tanyev]

4. You gotta get a feel for how the general election is going

to know what the outcome of the absentee ballots needs to be.

[cobalt1999]

5. I asked about that once here in Florida

Was told the same thing. Legally not allowed to scan or count ballots until election day.

What I don't understand is the precints saying they want to scan and not count? How do you scan without counting, isn't that the point of scanning...to get a count?

If people don't like it, work to change the laws as they are currently written.

[Atman]

6. That's okay, just toss 'em in the dumpster, like last time.

It's way easier than democracy.

.

[liberal N proud]

7. We will be lucky if he plans on counting them at all.

[seriousstan]

8. Ohio law doesn't allow ballots to be counted early or even scanned ahead of time

What is so hard to understand about this?

[Doremus]

9. Probably because the person interpreting the law is Ken Hackwell.

1. He's running for governor in the same election he's presiding over. Suppose that might cast some doubt on the veracity of his judgment?

2. He has a history of interpreting the law to his own benefit. Remember 80-pound paper stock in '04? That was one of his "interpretations." And it was struck down by the courts shortly before the election, but not until countless registrations were disposed of.


In last May's primary, the Cuyahoga County BoE choked. It took them a week to count the votes after one debacle after another. Letting them get a jump on the process and maybe avoid some of that would be prudent, imo. But the Secretary of State doesn't have the best interests of voters in mind, only his own.


A few good reasons to question his interpretation of the law, wouldn't you say?

[warrens]

10. Just stop expecting results by 8:30 p.m.

This isn't a Republican plot. They don't want to have early results spill out and poison an election by discouraging voters for candidates that are far behind. This is legitimate.