Ohio Voter Purge

[Lori Price CLG]

Ohio Voter Purge
http://www.legitgov.org/essay_monroe_ohio_voter_purge_071904.html

Ohio Voter Purge --by Steven Monroe "I noticed that one of the most critical counties in President (sic) Bush's re-(s)election efforts in Ohio, Hamilton County (Cincinnati), had a dramatic decrease in the voter rolls. It went from over 585,000 in 2000 to 519,048 today."

Lori Price
http://www.legitgov.org/

[acmavm]

1. Somebody has some explaining to do. I think that maybe this will be a

trend this election year.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. I'm subscribed to your email list and I forwarded this on

it's unbelievable what these criminals will stoop to! :grr:

[Philostopher]

3. Not to say this particular purge isn't a load of bullshit,

because it might well be, but Ohio counties always have been ruthlessly efficient about dropping inactive voters off the rolls, or at least Clermont County -- the neighboring county, where I grew up -- was all the time I was growing up. They weren't, however, always ruthlessly partisan, nor were the purges purely strategic, which wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be the case this time. Better have a look at Clermont, Butler and Warren counties, too -- they've all 'gone Republican' in recent decades, and probably have done the same kind of 'strategic purges' since the 2000 debacle, as well.

[mourningdove92]

4. Please excuse my ingnorance, but what right do they have

to purge or "disinfranchise" voters because of inactivity. If someone did not vote in the last two elections, why are they losing their voting privaledges this time?

[Philostopher]

5. In Ohio, your registration expires

if you miss two general elections. It's not that you've lost your right to vote, but you do have to re-register, and they won't tell you that you've been dropped from the rolls until you go to try to vote.

It's nasty, but it's the way Ohio has operated since the '80s, probably longer. I don't even know how unusual it is -- is Ohio the only state that drops inactive voters off the voting rolls and requires them to re-register to re-activate their votes? I've never voted anywhere else, so I don't know.

[Kolesar]

9. We should get this changed

I don't know if the government can get a bill through by November 2, but this would be a good project for next year.

[LittleWoman]

10. Ohio is not the only state to do this

others do it as well. You may be too young to recall or not have seen the re-run, but there was an episode of All in the Family where Mike and Gloria were campaigning for a liberal woman candidate who Archie of course hated and when he went to the polls to vote against her his voting registration had expired because he had not voted for a long time. This does not have to be a conspiracy, in some cases it is just housekeeping. For example when someone moves out of state the state they move to does not notify the previous state and so their registration stays on the rolls. Likewise, if someone dies their name is likely to stay on the books as well. Sooner or later these names need to be removed. If you have any doubt about your registration you should check with your local board of elections today. Do not wait as most states require you to be registered 30 days before the election. Some few allow you to register at the polls on election day. This would be a good time also to volunteer to work at the polls.

[WLKjr]

11. I am dumb to this myself, could you answer a question for me?

I voted in the primary and that was the only time I have voted this year, I do not have to re register do I ?

[cmd]

12. You should be good to go

Unless, of course, you have moved since you voted. If you have, you will need to file a change of address.

[VolcanoJen]

6. Glad you posted this here, Lori!

I just read it in LBN, and was anxious to post it here.

Thank you for keeping us up-to-date!!

LBN Thread here, for all interested:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x696117

[cmd]

7. It is a pain in the neck, but you may have to go to your courthouse to vot

If you have moved, failed to vote in the last two federal elections, served out a felony charge; you will need to reregister. Do this now. It only takes a few minutes and can be done at libraries, post offices, courthouse and numerous other places.

I have forwarded your post to the Kerry campaign.

edit: We need poll watchers also. Take off election day and volunteer, please.

[FatSlob]

8. Like all county BOEs,

The Hamilton County BOE is 1/2 Dem, 1/2 Rep. This is normal. The purge is normal operating procedure.