I'm confused. Why did we back down in Ohio?

[leeroysphitz]

Found on Yahoo.

Ohio Provisional Ballot Ruling Reversed

17 minutes ago

By JOE KAY, Associated Press Writer

CINCINNATI - A federal appeals court ruled Saturday that provisional ballots Ohio voters cast outside their own precincts should not be counted, throwing out a lower-court decision that said such ballots are valid as long as they are cast in the correct county.

The ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites) supports an order issued by Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell. Democrats contend the Republican official's rules are too restrictive and allege they are intended to suppress the vote.

Ohio Democrats on Saturday night decided not to file an appeal in the case, one of the first major tests of how such ballots will be handled in a close election. Polls show that the race between President Bush (news - web sites) and Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) in the key swing state is too close to call.

More:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041024/ap_on_el_pr/ohio_ballots&cid=694&ncid=716

[Ksec]

1. Its a no win.

They must have figured a better strategy would be to fight a more winnable fight. Maybe they thought this was hopeless.

What we should do is work on changing Ohios restrictive rules later.

[rockydem]

2. We didn't back down

There isn't time to dispute it any further. It's best to get the rules laid down NOW so you can make sure you get your people to the right place to vote.

[Lefty Pragmatist]

3. OH is looking better

and we don't want to give them a chance for litigation/challenge.

[Zen Democrat]

4. I don't have a problem with that. People should vote in their own precinct

especially if they are voting with a provisional ballot. This is something that could open up fraud on a wide-scale and could hurt us just as much as them.

[NEDem]

7. yeah, I agree.

I'd rather have people being forced to vote in their proper location than open up a bunch of votes to the opportunity of being thrown out. What's so bad about going to your assigned polling place. Sounds reasonable to me.

[Jersey Devil]

5. Well - if the votes are void these people can vote in the right precincts

There is still time to correct their errors by having them vote in the right districts. That would be the vote to fight for, not the ones cast in the wrong precinct.

If their first vote was not counted they have not voted yet and can do so now.

[dave502d]

6. I just don't get it.why is so hard to vote.

Yes i know the GOP don't want us to vote.

[Rjnerd]

9. Remember, the districted were changed

After the census the political districts were redone. (In texas they got to do it twice). So the place you have voted at for the last 20 years, may no longer be correct. In some states they are required to tell you, in others, it is sufficient for the clerk to post it at city hall.

What happens if after spending an hour in line at the place you always have voted, you discover that you should have gone across town.

If you move, I expect you to make an effort to find the correct polling place, but if you haven't moved, and your polling place has, then I think it is something that the provisional ballot was designed to cover.

Yes, the ballots may differ. But the election commision had better know who they relocated, and to where. It would be simple to make sure that they had ballots for the people that used to vote there. (not forever, just for the "big" election that follows redistricting).

[Lady President]

11. My concern exactly

Polling places change all the time and you are not always notified. Also, Ohio isn't very good about sending out voter registration cards. I have lived at many different addresses since I've been old enough to vote and always changed my voter registration, however I have never received a card.

I had to call the BoE to find my precinct location for the Primary this year. I went to my normal place only to find that two of the four precincts had been moved. Many people wouldn't know who call for more information or wouldn't bother.

I've heard polling places move more often in poor neighborhoods. I'm not sure if this is true, but I can imagine a church being a polling place one year and deciding they're not able to spend the extra money for gas and electricity the next year.

Besides, the vast majority of people don't know their precinct. (I didn't until this Summer.)

[leeroysphitz]

8. Of course

People should vote where they are registered and the vast majority of voters will, but in a year like this and in an important state it seems to me that NO votes are negligible and not pursuing an overturn of a policy by an obviously partisan SOS sets a precedent (legally). Who knows how things will turn out? If it's as close as some states in 2000 we might really want those votes. They might make a (the) difference. Why let them slide just like that? Why not let the bastards know in no uncertain terms that we are prepared to frigging fight for every last single vote regardless of the cost?

On the other hand Some of you make good points about avoiding confusion. I do see the value in making sure we get it right on ED.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. I'm thinking all these cases will end up with the same decision --

and I think we can deal.