Called BOE Just Now -- Can This Info Possibly Be Right???

[LiberalHeart]

I called to see if I can use a paper ballot when I go to vote. I was told yes, but it would have to be a provisional ballot because the only choices at the polls are provisionals or machines.

So far, okay, I guess -- but then the guy told me unregistered voters can use provisional ballots to both register and vote today if they have proper ID. Can that possibly be correct? I thought there were registration deadlines at least 30 consecutive days ahead of general elections.

I wanted to be sure I understood the guy correctly and he told me over and over that, yes, people can both register and vote today at the polls. He said "it's our way of making sure as many potential voters as possible get a chance to vote." He was adamant about this.

Anyone know if this is legal???

I live in Ohio.

[matt819]

1. Okay in NH

You can register on the day to vote in NH.

[kenny blankenship]

2. That sounds very familiar and I specifically remember stories about that

(registering and voting on provisional ballot) from Ohio in 2004.

[acmavm]

3. Go to the Ohio Secretary of State site, maybe it's like Nebraska

<snip>
Am I able to vote if I did not re-register?

Yes, if you have a current voter registration on file in the county you reside, you can go to your new polling place and vote on Election Day if it is in the same county. You will be asked to complete a new registration card before voting a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots will only be counted if your voter registration is verified.


http://www.sos.state.ne.us/elec/election_day.html

[LisaM]

4. You can't in Washington, but I know you can in Minnesota

It would surprise me if that's the law in Ohio, but maybe it is.

[BattyDem]

5. From the Ohio Secretary of State's web site (Blackwell)

Ohio has a 30-day voter registration requirement. If you register to vote by mail, your properly completed and signed registration application may be mailed to any of the afore mentioned locations, except the offices of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or its deputy registrars, and must be postmarked not later than the 30th day before the first election in which you want to vote.

If you do not submit your registration application by mail, you must deliver the form to a county board of elections, the office of the Secretary of State, a public library, high school or vocational school, county treasurer’s office or designated agency not later than the registration deadline for the first election in which you want to vote.

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/PublicAffairs/VoterInfoGuide.aspx?Section=14

[Habibi]

6. Boy--if the SOS web site and your local BOE

are contradicting each other--maybe call the SOS office to verify?

[LiberalHeart]

7. Eeeek ... call BLACKWELL?

On second thought, that could be interesting. Will do.

[LiberalHeart]

8. Okay, I just called Blackwell's office...

They said the info I was given was incorrect and they would notify my county BOE not to give out that info again. But just to be sure, when I go to the polls, I'm going to ask the poll worker if I can register today.

[Habibi]

14. Now whyinthehell would the local BOE give you that info?

*ponders*

[cui bono]

9. Beware of Provisional Ballots. Greg Palast says they don't get counted.

They are left to the side and are only counted if deemed necessary or something. I can't remember exactly how it works.

[LiberalHeart]

10. I've heard that, too, so decided to use the machine.

Shouldn't there be paper ballots, not just provisional ballots? If there's a power failure, as there was somewhere in my state today, do people then just vote on provisionals that may or may not get counted?

[McCamy Taylor]

12. I'll bet the Dems have a special legal team "Count the provisional balliots"

Remember the Voting Rights Act:

Every vote possible to be counted must be counted.

[Peace Patriot]

11. "So far, okay, I guess..." --you're right to be hesitant about Provis. Ballot,

which were designed to be tossable, I'm sorry to say. If you can do it, get involved in the fight over the Prov Ballot count. Many races will be decided there. And if the Absentee Ballot voting around the country is any gage (it's huge), lots of Ohioans may be choosing Prov ballots to try to get around the rigged electronics, just as the AB voters are doing.

Another unfortunate fact, many of those Absentee Ballot votes (--don't know about Prov votes, but probably true of them, too) will be scanned right into the rigged system. However, the massiveness of this voter rebellion against the machines (HALF of the entire state of Calif will be voting AB this time, for instance; also big in VA and many other places) is a very, very good sign, that, a) people are onto this rigged system, and b) are trying to DO something about it. We can work with that. With such a big block of rebellious voters, we can leverage that with local officials, to demand that AB votes be HAND COUNTED, and the results posted BEFORE any electronics are used--a good start on creating a paper ballot system by default! It may not help much today, but it sure could help for the '08 primaries and general election.

I don't know what to tell you about same day registration. We had a deadline of Oct. 23 here in Calif. for registering to vote. Try your local Dem Party headquarters, or one of the election hotlines? 866-OUR VOTE is one. Or, 800-DEM VOTE.

[crim son]

13. You can do it in Maine.

We were asked today if we were registered, or if we wanted to do it right then and there.

[Anarchy in the UK]

15. Voting Machines

Any word on voting irregularities & why don't you guys get angrier about this stuff - machines, gerrymadering etc...is this any way to run a superpower.

That said - even with the usual exit poll caveats - it's looking good for the Dems, which is probabl good for the world...