Ohio Consent Order suspends ID requirement for absentees

[eomer]

Nov 1, 11:29 PM EST

Ohio voter ID provisions still in force on Election Day

By JULIE CARR SMYTH
AP Statehouse Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Poverty and labor groups scored a partial victory Wednesday with a federal court settlement that clarifies and expands Ohio's new voter identification standards for Election Day, and suspends ID requirements altogether for absentee ballots.

The consent decree signed late Wednesday in U.S. District Court clears up confusion in key areas and allows more citizens to vote, said Cleveland attorney Subodh Chandra, one of the lawyers who filed a lawsuit challenging the state's new voter ID law.

The lawsuit, on behalf of the Service Employees International Union and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, had argued that counties were violating constitutional equal protection guarantees by inconsistently applying the law.

"We have never contended that a system of voter ID is unconstitutional, but what we have said is, if there is a constitutional system, this isn't it," Chandra said. "This was a train wreck and we have diverted the train from derailment."

-snip-

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OH_VOTER_ID_OHOL-?SITE=OHONN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Here is the Consent Order.

[liberal N proud]

1. So If I don't have an ID, I need to vote absentee?

If you request an absentee ballot now, what do you suppose the chances are that you would receive one in time to return it by Saturday?
Saturday is the deadline for your vote to be counted on election day.

If you go to the board of elections, they are going to require your ID to vote, they have always required that for the early voting.

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/PublicAffairs/VoterInfoGuide.aspx?Section=16

[jimshoes]

2. Here's the article from the Plain Dealer this AM

It does have info about voting at the BOE.
The agreement applies only to Tuesday's elections.

Other points of the agreement include:

Absentee voters who cast ballots at boards of elections rather than mailing them will no longer need to present identification when they vote.

Voters who don't have identification will be able to vote at next week's election by presenting the last four digits of their Social Security number and casting a provisional ballot.

Voters can use a military ID that shows a Social Security number as identification and cast a provisional ballot.



http://www.cleveland.com/open/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1162459883208740.xml&coll=2

edited for content

[eomer]

3. It looks like the ID requirements for an absentee request are the same as

the ID requirements for voting at the polling place so absentee doesn't seem to be a solution for someone who doesn't have one of the required IDs and doesn't already have an absentee ballot. But don't take my word for it -- that's just from a quick look. Is that how you interpret it? Consent Order is here.

The benefit of the order that I was trying to point out was that absentee ballots (as opposed to requests for absentee ballots) will be counted as long as they have the name, address, date of birth and signature. Previous to the order there was a requirement that they have either the driver's license number or the last four of the SSN and there was confusion because driver licenses in OH have two different numbers on them. Voters who accidentally used the wrong one were going to be disenfranchised. Also, voters who mailed in their absentee early would have had no way of knowing about that ID requirement. They had complied with the rule in effect at the time they mailed it in but were going to be disenfranchised anyway.

On edit: I guess I shouldn't say anything based on just a quick look. After a bit longer look, I see that an absentee ballot request is less stringent than voting in person. You can provide a DL number or the last four of the SSN but don't have to produce any document. So this would be a solution for someone who knows their SSN or DL# but doesn't have any physical documents that meet the requirements.

[BillORightsMan]

4. Absentee ballot deadlines

iirc, the last day to REQUEST an absentee ballot is FRIDAY, so you can go down to your BoE and fill out the Absentee Ballot Request form on the spot. Some BoEs have voting machines set up in their offices, so you can vote right there or ask for a paper ballot.

ALL BALLOTS ARE DUE back at the BoE by the close of the polls 7:30 PM on Election Day. I believe you must return them to your BoE, NOT your polling place, but I'll have to check.

I'd recommend getting a paper ballot from the BoE now, and make sure you have ID of whatever kind you have when you go. Fill up your car with family or neighbors and go together!

(fyi, I'm writing in ME in a judges race! After the election, I can request a complete list of candidates who received votes, which includes ALL write-ins. If I don't see ONE VOTE for ME in the judge's race, then I know my ballot was not counted. Also, I'm going to photo-copy my ballot & ID before I return my ballot. Hey, it's worth a shot!)

More on this ruling is on Dan Tokaji's blog:
Consent Order in Ohio Voter ID Case
Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006

:patriot: