ALERT: Huge Voter Purge Underway in Ohio - mailings sent out today

[garybeck]

Nearly 600,000 Subject to Possible Caging in Ohio

How many voter-registration mass mailers are "returned to sender" in the run-up to Election Day may determine how many Ohio residents are eligible to vote.

Ohio election officials are sending out a mass mailer stamped “do not forward” to all registered voters today (Sept. 5) with an absentee ballot application and other important notices for Nov. 4.

What’s important here is not so much what’s going out as what’s being returned to sender.

Unbeknownst to the would-be recipients, the same mailer — just 60 days before the election — has the potential to determine their eligibility to vote, challenged not by election officials but by partisan opposition.

A similar mailer in March netted nondeliverable mail from almost 600,000 registered voters in just five Ohio counties who could now have their ballots thrown out for voting under the wrong address.

The National Voter Registration Act prohibits any state from purging names from the voting rolls within 90 days of an election.

The law doesn’t, however, preclude mass partisan challenges on or shortly before Election Day — known as voter caging — based on the same returned envelopes from state-sponsored mailers like the ones in Ohio and others going out across the country.

http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/662

[PDJane]

1. Yes.

this is why mcInsane is so sure of himself......

[wundermaus]

17. Voter Registration Resource by State -

http://www.votesmart.org/voter_registration_resources.php

[jjr5]

147. Obama should make a campaign commercal in Ohio

and other battleground states explaining to voters the proper voter registration process and what to do when they receive return mail like the one described above. Not only will it arm many voters in those states, but it will bring the issue of voter caging and fraud to the national stage and to states' attention.

[RaleighNCDUer]

153. Ah, the point is, I believe, that the recipients will never RECEIVE the mailing

so they won't know they are in trouble until it is too late.

The only solution is for EVERYBODY who has moved in the past year to go to the board of elections and make sure they have the correct address.

[Two Americas]

163. not a solution

Expecting people to individually make sure that their one individual vote will count is not a solution to widespread and massive voter suppression and election theft.

Our individual votes only have value in aggregate. We must fight back together, not as individuals, and the party leaders must aggressively step up to the challenge.

Saying that people need to run around as individuals protecting their one vote, and then saying that this is the solution, may actually be counter productive.

The Republicans know that they must disenfranchise voters in bulk to change electoral results and advance their goals. We must resist together, not as individuals with small personal solutions, and we need to demand that pour own leaders be leaders on this. They outsmart us on that, and many things, again and again.

Massive election theft and voter suppression continues to occur, and most of the public is not even aware of it.

Where are our leaders?

Please, people, spend whatever time and energy you might spend on guaranteeing your one personal vote on protecting the votes of millions. The way to do that is to pressure our own party leaders to fight on our behalf. That is why we support them, work for them, and contribute to them.

If the people we are voting for cannot be bothered to fight for our votes, they are not earning our votes.

[RaleighNCDUer]

176. Do you know what you are talking about?

The mailing already went out. Those people who have moved will not receive the mailing. It will not be forwarded to them. It will be returned to the BOE as undeliverable. They will then be removed from the voter rolls. And they won't know it, because they they didn't get the notice.

Now, maybe they did file for a new voter registration at the new address. They CANNOT trust that the new registration is going to be valid, that the BOE won't strip that name from BOTH addresses. When Florida did this people with similar names were stripped from the rolls -John A. Doe and John E. Doe BOTH found they were not on the rolls, though only John A. Doe had moved. They targeted Democratic precincts and spread as wide a net as possible.

It's TOO LATE for the politicians to "fix" anything. It IS up to each individual to make sure they are registered correctly.

The time for politicians to do anything is BEFORE the vote caging begins. Once it is underway, only individuals can deal with their individual situations.

It's not about a "solution". It is about an effective response. Nobody is going to do a THING, or CAN do a thing, except the individual voter.

[Two Americas]

177. we are all on our own?

We can expect nothing from the politicians we support and vote for?

What sort of alternative reality are we living in now?

It is always "too late" or "too premature" or "off the table" or "not good for the country" for the politicians to do anything.

Why would you vehemently insist - under any circumstances whatsoever - that "nobody is going to do a THING, or CAN do a thing, except the individual voter."

[RaleighNCDUer]

184. Because that is the fucking fact.

There is no political recourse available at this late date. It SHOULD have been addressed six months ago, but it wasn't.

The ONLY way for ANYONE to be sure they can vote is to check their own voter registration with the BOE. Not just in Ohio. Everywhere.

If you have moved since the last election - especially since the primaries - you MUST check. Otherwise you are likely as not to wind up with a provisional ballot in November, and we know what happens with them.

BITCHING DOES NO GOOD.

Taking responsibility for your own vote. That works. Vote caging only works if we let them get away with it by NOT taking responsibility for our own votes.

Put it this way - what can anyone else do to make sure YOU are properly registered?

[Two Americas]

191. ok ok

You said "Taking responsibility for your own vote. That works. Vote caging only works if we let them get away with it by NOT taking responsibility for our own votes."

That is the same damned personal responsibility crap the right wing is peddling, though isn't it?

That "works" to achieve what?? It doesn't stop caging. If anything it normalizes and excuses it.

"If you aren't allowed to vote you have no one to blame but yourself, so quit your whining and bitching" is what I am hearing.

"Taking responsibility" for your own vote does not protect your vote. Can't you see that?

"People need to take responsibility or they will not be allowed to vote" is the very rationale the right wingers use to justify the damned caging.

[RaleighNCDUer]

207. OK smartass, tell me what Obama should do. Right now.

The notices have gone out. How can he fix it?

How can YOU fix it?

What the fuck are our options?

[Two Americas]

212. well don't be mad at me

I am talking directly to staffers in long discussions, strongly advocating that they take an aggressive stance. They are afraid that we won't have their backs - they are politicans after all - so I am trying to convince people here and everywhere else to have their backs.

The politicians may never be as strong - falsely called "radical" and "impractical" by many here - as we are. But they certainly will never be stronger than we are. If we take a weak "oh well they know what they are doing and I guess we just have to trust them and go along" posture, the political process breaks down.

Politicians in a representative democracy can only do that which we demand that they do. Going easy on them does them and us no favors, and is not way to "support" them and will always backfire.

[DaLittle Kitty]

200. Heard That Before In FLORIDA! FLORIDA IS NEXT! KICK + RECOMEND!

This IS FASCIST AMERICA!

[Two Americas]

203. hey there fellow Edwards supporter

Long time no see. (((hug)))

[maseman]

172. I live in Ohio and am looking at the mail I got today

Yes it says to return service requested. OK so 600,000 of them came back before.

Some questions. First, how many people of that 600,000 actually did move out of state? Second, I am sure a portion of these people may have already signed up to vote in their new counties of residence correct? Third, obviously it is not only Democrats who move. Repukes move also. So of the 600,000 it may be about 150,000 dems? That is still a huge number of people who might get screwed. Wasn't that the margin of victory for Shrub in 2004 in Ohio?

[Oreillynsf]

187. It all depends on how the names re selected.

If you believe all is on the up and up, you are correct. But I don't believe that at all. I believe in Florida in 2000 they picked names that had a higher than average propensity to be African American, and focused on predominantly minority wards.

[jjr5]

205. Whatever is happening, we have to do something.

And it has to be aggressive and done quickly. We have to fight this one out. We need to start reclaiming our right - our right to vote.

[lonestarnot]

2. "Watch 'em!"

:grr:

[jjr5]

148. Yeah! Honestly,

This is the same technique the republicons used in both 2000 and 2004. They want to divide the electorate roughly in half and use voter registration fraud to get the upper hand. It's disgusting, it's against the law, against the declaration of independence, and we will NOT let it happen again!

[EFerrari]

3. Here they go. We knew they'd try it.

Who is working in Ohio?

[msongs]

4. good thing the democrats INC have done something to prevent this lololol umm they have, yes? nt

[garybeck]

13. no, they've done nothing

don't count on it.

[EFerrari]

16. We can't leave it to anyone. n/t

[liberalmuse]

5. I strongly suggest that people go register in person.

Just to be sure. I had a change of address and checked online tonight to make sure the registrar received it. Thank dog, they have. This chills me to the bone. I'm going to alert my grandma to this. She's probably already aware. She's a very active organizer in the Democratic Party up in NE Ohio.

[EFerrari]

7. Voters in swing states MUST check their registration.

That's one of the major ways they will try to steal it this time.

Pass it on!

[arthritisR_US]

41. they need to do public announcements and put out flyers and such. n/t

[EFerrari]

57. Yes, we need to alert people through any network we have --

Democratic clubs, churches, our own email lists, whatever. There is no "they", there is only us, really.

[arthritisR_US]

81. excellent point! I also think the DCCC and DNC should do public announcements on network tv. n/t

[EFerrari]

134. Radio, too. Stephanie, Thom and Mike reach a LOT of people. n/t

[DFW]

140. If they didn't know before, they sure do now.

[RedLetterRev]

155. Don't count on the DNC

They can't even get their own blog working. DNCSC is so disorganized, they couldn't put a database or attack plan together with two hands, a guide dog and a flashlight. As someone said upthread, there is no "they". There is only "us".

[lynnertic]

107. That would be wonderful - "Efforts to disenfranchise you are underway. Check your registration

or risk losing your vote."

[Qutzupalotl]

136. Check whether you're registered here:

http://www.votepoke.org/

[lynnertic]

210. why do I suspect they're using this to build a mailing list? Theyre requiring extra info from me.

1) I never had to provide an email address when I registered to vote, while this form requires an email address, and

2) while I'm required to provide a full street address for this form, the search results stipulate that they can only check whether your name is listed within a zip code.

So votepoke.com can't even give you an accurate result!!!


I call bullshit!!

[Qutzupalotl]

211. You can uncheck the box to receive email updates.

From their FAQ:

Why do you need my email address?

We need your email address so that you can see which of your friends have registered. We also may need it to tell you your voter registration status if we're not immediately able to verify it. You won't be added to any mailing lists unless you explicitly ask to be.

Will you keep my friends' email addresses?

We'll only email your friends when you tell us to. Once they check their voter registration status, we'll encourage them to invite their friends too, to make sure that every eligible voter is registered to vote.

[clear eye]

159. I can just picture the Repub. response

leaving their public # "off the hook" and claiming that people can't get through because the ad caused a response that overwhelmed their system. And blaming the DNC.

[offog]

142. It burns me that voters have to go through this.

:mad: I hope that if/when Obama gets in, the Dems will introduce legislation to curb some of this bullshit. Vote suppression is an abomination.

[northernlights]

137. hope you printed out

the online confirmation!

[Two Americas]

166. why?

The problem is not that my one individual vote may not count. The problem is that millions will be disenfranchised.

"Make sure your vote counts" is the wrong approach. "Demand that every vote counts" is the approach to take, and that will absolutely require courage and leadership from the very people we are trying to get elected.

Why even support politicians who will not fight to protect the vote?

[blondeatlast]

178. Short run/long run. We need to get the word to individuals NOW and keep up the pressure

on this for later.

This isn't and either/or situation, it is very much an AND situation.

[Two Americas]

181. it is either/or

Unfortunately it is either/or in practical reality. Oil and water.

Either we reach first for political solutions or we reach first for individual solutions. You cannot do both at the same time, because they work against one another.

"Personal responsibility" is the rationale for the voter purges to begin with, and telling people that they as individuals need to jump through hoops to protect their vote - and that is clearly what the discussion is about and how people are hearing the message - is "personal responsibility" taken to an absurd extreme. It is a right wing way of looking at things, and should always be anathema to us. It is inconsistent with and contradictory to what we need to be doing.

[blondeatlast]

189. Sure. Political solutions always work overnight.

:eyes:

[Two Americas]

195. they are happening all the time

Everything we think, say and do has political impact. The "political solution" of stealing the election is not ta=king the Republicans a lot of time. They seem to get results overnight, don't they?

You are saying that stopping stolen elections requires a "political solution" that will take a long time, and you are berating me like a little child about this?

How come the right wingers can achieve political results overnight? Because they fight and we don't. We get angry and attack any one of our own who even suggests we should fight for a change rather than roll over with the "these things take time" excuse. The more time we take, the farther away from success we get. The right wing marches on - they don't beat up on each other about this, they just get the job done. They beat us again and again, and it starts with the "personal responsibility" and "baby steps" and "be practical" admonishments we use against our own.

We spend ten times as much effort beating up on each other than we do fighting the right wingers.

Why roll your eyes? I don't understand the contempt implicit in that.

[still_one]

6. Ohio has a Democraic Govenor. So why isn't he doing anything about it? /nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. Because he wants Obama to lose so that his girl, Hillary, can run in 2012.

[still_one]

15. I don't buy that, because if we lose this time, it is really over /nt

[Kolesar]

138. Stupidest thing I have heard today...eom

[rucognizant]

151. Yes

I thought he gave a pretty good speech at the convention last week.
Alert DNC. I thught Dean was on top of stuff like this. He certainly improved the Democratic Party in Maine here, with his 50 states initiatib-ve.
Meantime I made a discovery today. After breaking myheart campaining last time 2004, and getting stiff opposition from Repigs...........
At the market this afternoon. I asked the cashier ( mind you this is the same market where 4 years ago,the owner threatened to have me arrested if I didn't stop talking politics in her store)what she thought of Palin......she wasn't familiar with her. So I told her about Roe v Wade, the girls chin dropped, the moosehunts the suit against the polar bears. I didn't have to "sell her", just tell her"..fillint he blanks left by the MSM.
Piece of cake!

[Liberal In Texas]

8. Read Greg Palast and understand why he's been predicting for

almost 4 years that they'll steal the election again.

http://www.gregpalast.com/raging-caging-what-the-heck-is-vote-caging-and-why-should-we-care/

[silverojo]

46. Not exactly a psychic prediction

They've gotten away with it twice, that's why they'll do it ad nauseum.

[G_j]

9. K&R

[kestrel91316]

11. Hell, everybody in OH needs to REREGISTER RIGHT NOW.

Don't let them pull this crap.

[EFerrari]

14. All the swing states, esp. urban areas. The black vote, the military vote

the student vote, other minority votes as in NM where there are Latinos and Native Americans.

We pretty much know EXACTLY where they will hit. :shrug:

[garybeck]

50. Actually they'd be better off to vote on September 30th.

According to the article a new law enables people to register AND VOTE between 9/30 and 10/6.

[clear eye]

158. To clarify--That Goes Only for Ohio n/t

[clear eye]

157. Uh-uh. NOT re-register, check their registration

In an NYT story, it mentioned county commissioners in Louisiana (they call counties "parishes") throwing out registrations because the resident registered two or more times. Also, if your registration has been rejected for some reason, it's important to know why before you register again. In the same NYT story, it mentioned applications rejected for signatures that didn't match your DMV signature. In other words, if you signed your driver's license with (or without) your middle initial, or as "Jim" rather than "James", your registration application better match. Also if you have a common name and it's the same as the name of a felon (in states that don't let former prisoners vote) or an illegal alien (think how many Carlos Gonzalezes there must be), you need to prove to them that you're someone else. Especially if you have a Republican county commissioner.

[SoCalDem]

12. The Ohio democratic party needs to hire a call center

or have their own mailing that instructs all registered dems to..

VERIFY THEIR VOTING STATUS personally..

either have them go to the registrar's office
check online (if that's possible in Ohio)
at the very least CALL..

Going in person, is preferred, since you can ask for something in writing that verifies you are registered..something you can TAKE with you..

or call and ask to have a sample ballot mailed to you.. That comes with your name on it, and your voting location.

It sucks top have to do this, buit if it means voting or not voting, it's not that hard to do..there are 60 days left..

[lonestarnot]

25. Dems in AZ need to do the same thing!

[SoCalDem]

28. AFTER the possible purge, though

Done too soon, and it;s useless:(

[EFerrari]

33. If we send people out NOW and if they get a receipt

they'll have a good case. If we wait too long, it won't happen anyway.

[lonestarnot]

121. I wonder if voter registration cards are issued when one goes to the office in person?

In any event, I plan to go early next week to check on mine!

[frog92969]

146. In MD they mailed mine 2 weeks later.

[clear eye]

160. They will KEEP doing partisan purges up to a couple of weeks

before election day, and demand that the ballots from voters with unreturned challenges are removed from the tally. That means whoever thought the challenges were junk mail, or who were on vacation or at school before election day. Students who don't live at home are better off using absentee ballots, rather than the regular mail-in voting or in-person voting.

[blondeatlast]

179. Absolutely; I don't trust our SoS any more than I can throw her--and we have some critical local

races this year!

[goclark]

18. Here we go and what do they do in Ohio

???? and other places

[EFerrari]

23. We have to get the word out to our friends who are at risk

to check their registration and to vote in a group if at all possible, because in key precincts, the Thugs will mount challenges.

That means, don't mail anything in and that means, go with a friend or two who can back you up if anyone tries to mess with you.

That's the drill.

Mostly. we have to work at getting the word out and at recruiting observers.

[goclark]

122. We need a State-city-neighborhood plan that works!

We must out Rove ROVE

[yodermon]

19. This is how they will do it.

if the media can keep obama to < 10% lead in the polls, it Will be close enough to steal.
The Bradley effect will be the oh so convenient explanation.

[amerikat]

20. Is the Obama campaign on this?

I sure hope so. If anyone here has an "in" to the campaign I hope you let them know about this. There should be an army of lawyers heading to Ohio with war paint on. It is also mail fraud in my book.

[EFerrari]

27. The campaigns are never "on this". It's us, that's who's on this.

We need to alert people, to hook up with election protection groups. No one else is going to do this.

[amerikat]

44. I'll xpost to the Ohio forum. I'm so pissed that this can still go on.

An army of lawyers should already be on their way.

[EFerrari]

48. Good idea! Thanks!

:)

[juajen]

53. Obviously, the DNC is on board with this, or our majority in

Congress would have effected some changes. I'm tired of yelling about it. No one is listening.

[RaleighNCDUer]

188. That would be DLC, not DNC.

Dr Dean's 50 state strategy is designed to make this shit less effective. DLC keeps wanting us to focus on a few particular "battleground states" which means they only need to do this in a FEW places to flip the election, instead of everywhere.

Please try to keep you fifth columnists straight.

[Two Americas]

167. why on earth not?

And why should we blithely accept this?

If we cannot bring ourselves to demand that the very politicians we are supporting fight election theft, then we have truly surrendered our representative democracy.

I agree that it is us who must be on this, but the way to be on this is to demand that our leadership fight on our behalf. That is the entire reason we support them to begin with.

[Beregond2]

21. I don't understand how this hurts Dems more than Repigs.

Are they specifically targetting Democrats?

[Judi Lynn]

30. Please spend the time doing some research yourself if you have questions:

SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2008
News
Ohio's Election Stolen Again? State May Face 600K Voter Purge in Coming Weeks
Wednesday 13 August 2008
»
by: Advancement Project and Project Vote

Columbus, Ohio - Based on publicly available information nearly 600,000 eligible voters could be placed on a caging list and challenged on Election Day, which could then result in their removal from the voter rolls without due process, in accordance with Ohio law. Ohio counties with largest numbers of returned notices prior to March 2008 Presidential Primary are Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas and Summit.

In 2005, Ohio's General Assembly introduced legislation, House Bill 3 (H.B.3) that overhauled Ohio's election system. H.B. 3, in part, requires voter information mailings and amends Ohio's challenge statute(s). In particular, it requires that 88 county boards of election mail all Ohio registered voters a non-forwardable notice 60 days before the election. Each board must compile into a list any notices that are returned as undeliverable. These lists, in turn, are available as public records to any individual or group seeking to use the list as a "caging list" to challenge voters.

~snip~
Advancement Project anticipates that significant number of voters of color will be included on the county generated caging lists because census data indicates that they move more frequently than whites. Furthermore, in light of the fact that college students change residences frequently, it is anticipated that large numbers of young voters will be included on the lists as well.

"Voter suppression and intimidation is driven by a desire to maintain the status quo, concluded Judge." "These acts are carried out in an effort to deprive certain Americans, especially those most marginalized, of a voice in our democracy. Election Day is the great equalizer - it is the one day where if all was right in our democracy, it would not matter if a person is rich, poor, black, white, educated or not, we all would have the same amount of power."

More:
http://www.truthout.org/article/ohios-election-stolen-again-state-may-face

[garybeck]

63. We need to help educate each other, not condemn people for asking questions!

it's a GOOD thing when someone shows an interest and asks a question.

criticizing someone for not doing the research is not going to turn them into an election reform advocate!

Asking on DU is a form of doing research, anyway!


we need to applaud people for showing an interest, and help them find the answers to their questions, if we want more and more people to find out what's happening!

[quantass]

95. Agreed!

[tbyg52]

106. Really. One of the reasons I come here

is so that if I have a question I'm having trouble finding the answer to, I can ask and someone will probably have the answer right in their head to give to me. I try to pay back by doing the ER news. That's the way things should work, right....? ;)

[garybeck]

31. yes

First of all, even if you send it to everyone, low income people are more likely to have a problem with their mailing address, live in temporary housing, etc.

And if you read Greg Palast, there is also targeting going on.

[EFerrari]

34. Yes, they do target Democrats. They target precincts where

the turnout is heavily Democratic. It's not random at all.

[juajen]

56. Yes, but the dems are in charge now. So, why is this still going on?

I miss Andy.

[EFerrari]

61. Because they're still dealing with laws passed under Blackheart in OH

and because we have no functioning Justice Department.

You know they've spent the last four years setting up traps. We just have to move through them.

I miss Andy, too.

[clear eye]

161. Two reasons

1) Many counties still have Republican County Commissioners
2) The Ohio legislature passed a law that left a loophole allowing each party to do their own caging mailings.

[CoffeeCat]

168. I'll never forget....

...in 2004, my state was a swing state (Iowa), and our then-Secretary of State was repeatedly on the news,
talking about the importance of having enough voting machines. He went on the defensive. He knew damn
well what they were going to try to pull--that's my opinion, anyway.

The night of the election, I see our Secretary of State--frantic, because the Republicans in charge of ordering
the voting machines, didn't order enough machines in Ames, Iowa--an ultra-Democratic college town. He was literally
sweating, trying to resolve the problem. You could tell he was ticked--again, that's my opinion.

They do these things all over the country. They're hoping that we won't connect the dots, or that there isn't enough
proof to connect the dots.

That Secretary of State, thank God, is now our Governor--Chet Culver.

[FatDave]

38. They target democratic areas.

Areas with large minority populations, areas with large youth populations (colleges), urban areas in general. Suppress the vote in those areas, and you;re automatically suppressing democrats.

[bertman]

173. Beregond2, it's because the REPUKES are the ones who go to polling places and CHALLENGE

DEMOCRATIC VOTERS. It is an organized effort on their part to keep Democratic voter turnout down so they can then manipulate the vote totals on the Repuke-controlled voting machines.

As far as I know this has been their modus operandi in the last two national elections (along with numerous state contests) and it has been wildly successful.

What is so freaking discouraging about this is that you and so many other Democrats have no clue that this has happened and IS HAPPENING AND COST US THE LAST TWO ELECTIONS. Plus, as someone else has already mentioned the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACTS LIKE THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T EVEN EXIST.

[Wiley50]

22. This Needs to be Front Page on every Newspaper in state of Ohio

Anyone who knows how to make that happen needs to go into action NOW!

Ohio DUers? Are you on top of this?

[flamingdem]

92. yes it does !!!!! nt

[jimshoes]

145. Not yet, but I'm going to be

looking into this thing and letting the local Dem club know about it. They have ties to the major players.

[tbyg52]

24. "Ohio election officials"?????

I thought we had things straightened out there, and now the *government* is doing what the Repug party used to do???? :wtf:

[garybeck]

32. yeah, that's my question too.

i'm working on it.

[EFerrari]

36. It's Ohio state law, per the article in the OP. n/t

[garybeck]

39. but someone has to give the list of returned mail to the bad guys

I don't understand how that is happening.

can I call up my elections board and ask them for a list of people who didn't reply to a mailing? I don't think that should be public information

[EFerrari]

43. Let's call and ask on Monday, if we don't find the wording of the law.

Damn, no more tiptoeing around. Let's get in their faces.

Maybe both parties or all parties are given a list. I don't know. And if people are registered to a party, that usually is public, isn't it?

[garybeck]

49. the law was written in 2005

they still had Blackwell then.

i guess that explains why the mailing is going out. but it doesn't explain how these people know who to challenge on election day. someone has to leak the list to them it seems to me.

[EFerrari]

55. I thought these jerks sent out their own mail so, I don't know either.

But I'll be happy to call on Monday and ask how this works.

OH, FL, NM, CO, PA, MI, SC, NV, AZ, OR. Who else? It's time to get this party started because you know they are at it, again.

[juajen]

58. Too late, as usual. NT

[EFerrari]

59. No, it's exactly the right time. Too early, they can disappear you.

Too late, you can't vote. This is our window.

[garybeck]

66. who you gonna call?

I think Greg Palast is one of the only people who can answer the question. Or maybe Bob Fitrakis, or David Rosenfeld who wrote that article.

[EFerrari]

71. I'm going to call Brunner's office. Who else?

:)

If they're doing the mailing, they know the process.

[suffragette]

84. A Truthout article states "These lists, in turn, are available as public records

as public records to any individual or group seeking to use the list as a "caging list" to challenge voters."


http://www.truthout.org/article/ohios-election-stolen-again-state-may-face

In 2005, Ohio's General Assembly introduced legislation, House Bill 3 (H.B.3) that overhauled Ohio's election system. H.B. 3, in part, requires voter information mailings and amends Ohio's challenge statute(s). In particular, it requires that 88 county boards of election mail all Ohio registered voters a non-forwardable notice 60 days before the election. Each board must compile into a list any notices that are returned as undeliverable. These lists, in turn, are available as public records to any individual or group seeking to use the list as a "caging list" to challenge voters.

The amended challenge law no longer requires the county boards to provide Ohio voters with notice that they are being removed from the voting rolls or a hearing for them to defend themselves of a challenge. Rather, the Ohio law permits the boards to review their own records and make a determination to the validity of the challenge.

This law was effective beginning 2006 and covers all primary, general, and special elections from 2006 through the November 2008 General Election. Advancement Project finds it extremely interesting, that this law "sunsets" effective January 1, 2009.

.....

Advancement Project would like to see the Ohio Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner issue a directive prohibiting Ohio electors from challenging Ohio voters whose name appear on any returned mailings and/or any past, current or future caging list. This is the best remedy to ensure that all Ohio voters are treated in a uniform manner during the November 2008 election because it permits the county boards to send out information to Ohio voters and at the same time ensures that all voters are permitted to vote without the threat of being placed on a list that is subject to challenge for no other reason than a returned mailing.

So, it does look like they are publicly available and that's how they get them.

[No Elephants]

99. Someone is on this--Project Vote and the ACLU. Consider a donation or volunteering.

[bedazzled]

26. i think they're doing it in palm beach too. got a strange mailer with absentee ballot

information the other day. had mccain's ugly mug on it.
i wondered what they were up to.

thought they might be up to some mischief with
the counting of the absentee ballots.

not that it's possible to vote in palm beach
county anyway.

[EFerrari]

29. There you go. We have a witness. n/t

[bedazzled]

35. it's sad when the first thing you think is "what are they up to now."

it's hard to follow the logic, though. that
would tend to weed out mccain voters, also.

guess they don't want anyone to vote. thinking
about it, they probably don't need anyone to
vote for them, if the fix is in like i think
it is.

[EFerrari]

37. They will try to "weed out" far more Obama voters.

Hang in there, bedazzled. There are a lot of people working on this. We just have to hook up with each other and disappoint these bastards as much as possible.

[bedazzled]

40. ah, i see now. thugs are less likely to be in dire straits and have to move

gosh, i hate these people. well at least we've
managed to dispose of arthur anderson. hope that
will improve this mess somewhat.

[EFerrari]

47. They target specific precincts for this stuff. Yes, you're right.

low income, military, student, black, other minority. They have it down to a fine art. But, the upside is, we KNOW who is at risk. And we can try to help those voters.

[bedazzled]

51. it's too bad they don't put these efforts into something positive for humanity

that'd probably make their brain pans crack,
though.

thanks for the words of comfort. it's
amazing how hopeless you feel when you don't
know whether your vote will count.

g'nite!

[chill_wind]

42. Sez Faux News/AP: New Ohio Voter Registration Rules Irk GOP

New Ohio Voter Registration Rules Irk GOP
by Associated Press
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Border


COLUMBUS, Ohio — Never mind the last days of the presidential campaign. The busiest days for Barack Obama’s campaign in this perennial swing state are likely to be a month before Election Day.

Ohio has created a window in the election calendar that would allow residents instant gratification — register one minute, vote the next. It’s also given the campaigns of Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain a chance to bank thousands of first-time voters during that Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 window.

The move will benefit Obama, who enjoys a 2-to-1 lead over McCain among 18- to 34-year-olds, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released last month. If Obama’s campaign were able to tap into college campuses with one-stop voting, it would add thousands of votes to his tally in a state where, in 2004, John Kerry lost to President Bush by only about 118,000 votes, putting Bush over the top in the electoral count.


(...)

In Ohio, Republicans are clearly not pleased with same-day registration and voting and have not ruled out a lawsuit against Brunner’s office.

“You have to wonder, when they look at what they consider a loophole with such excitement,” said Jason Mauk, the Ohio Republican Party’s executive director. “That would suggest manipulating the process, and I think opens the door to suspicion.”

The voting window, so far, is only being implemented in some counties — typically, urban areas or those with college campuses — leading Republicans to cry foul


more:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/14/new-ohio-voter-registration-rules-irk-gop/


Some of the reader comments suggest that many Ohioans may not even be aware of the new rules..

[bedazzled]

45. that new rule sounds suspiciously fair and sensible

that kind of thing doesn't happen much
anymore!

[garybeck]

52. they'll sue Brunner

there's still a lot of republicans in the Ohio courts.

[RaleighNCDUer]

190. It may be my latent paranoia speaking, but I'm real suspicious of

this.

What provisions are there for making sure the one-stop register and vote is not duplicated? It seems the only way to be sure that no one registers and votes twice is to make the ballot a provisional ballot, to be counted only after making sure the registration is not a duplicate - and we know how provisional ballots are treated.

If they are pushing this as a Democratic initiative (despite it being passed by a Republican governor and state government) then it seem they are hoping to snag a lot of first-time voters, mostly newly registered Obama voters, into casting their votes on provisional ballots.

Bad news.

Or am I just paranoid?

[smiley_glad_hands]

54. The key to winning Ohio will be counting all the provisional ballots

prior to certifying the election. I just hope the dem SoS knows this.

[garybeck]

60. good luck with that. don't count on it

remember what Kerry did

[smiley_glad_hands]

68. Kerry and the public were told he couldn't beat the margin even with provisionals.

Obama is not Kerry.

[garybeck]

74. Again, I say don't count on it.

you are putting a lot of faith in Obama and his understanding of elections and how they work. And your subject line contradicts the text - was the problem that there weren't enough provisional ballots, or was the problem that Kerry is a wimp? Or both?

Obama is not Kerry but I think many people have a false sense of hope that he is going to stand up to the problems with the election. I heard him in an interview after the 2004 elections and he brushed off any suggestion tht there were problems with the election. I've heard him be asked about the voting machines and he doesn't even acknowledge there's a problem.

The truth is, there was so much crap going down in Ohio, it's very likely that Kerry won. But he would have had to not concede, ask for a recount, and hold out for days if there was any chance of doing anything about it. I don't think Obama would do that either, with the media announcing that it's over.

[dana_b]

128. aren't there still provisionals there that were never counted? n/t

[bertman]

175. garybeck, in the last paragraph of your post relating to not conceding and holding out for a recount

lies the crux of the matter. Which is: the Democratic candidates appear to be more worried about offending the Republicans than whether we have a fair election that counts EVERYONE'S vote.

This is a peculiarly Democratic disease whose virulent strain has spread through the ranks from the highest echelons of the Democratic advisors who whisper into our candidates' ears.

Now I ask you, what could possibly be more important than ENSURING THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS FAIR AND REPRESENTS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE? Apparently John Kerry felt that wasn't so important. Al Gore, on the other hand, courageously stood up to the election thieves only to have George Dubya Bush APPOINTED by the five conservative Supreme Court Justices who overruled the Florida election laws so a full and honest recount would not be conducted.

If Obama doesn't grasp this and if his campaign and the Democratic leadership are not prepared for these assaults on our republic then he will lose this election. And history will record that this was the moment that the American Republic died and the American Empire began.

[EFerrari]

62. I don't think that will happen. We need to get as many people as possible

to vote on regular ballots.

[smiley_glad_hands]

65. If I understand it correstly, if your vote is challenged, you can still vote provisionally.

So all those people that are going to be caged can still vote and have it count if the SoS so deems it.

[EFerrari]

69. That's the law. The practice is that provisional ballots may or may not

be counted. They are nothing to write home about.

[smiley_glad_hands]

72. That judgement is left to the SoS as I understand it.

[EFerrari]

73. I'm not trying to criticize her. I'm just telling you what the practice has been

with provisional ballots. There is no guarantee at all that they will be counted. It is not like casting a regular ballot.

[smiley_glad_hands]

79. All i'm saying is the dem SoS better count the provisionals prior to certifying the electon.

[EFerrari]

82. I'm not willing to bet Ohio on what someone better do. n/t

[smiley_glad_hands]

83. The votes are going to be challenged no matter.

Yes, register more people, absolutely, GOTV, but provisionals are a part of the process.

[RaleighNCDUer]

197. Exactly. If the regular ballots are breaking 48/52, that's a large

enough lead that they just assume the provisional ballots will break the same way - despite the fact that the provisional ballots are liklier to be Democratic votes, and could flip that to 51/49.

They say "X is leading by 100,000 votes, and Y would have to get 65% of the provisional ballots to win, therefore we'll call it for X". Never mind that Y actually COULD have 65% of the provisionals.

[garybeck]

76. You think the SoS is going to personally review 600,000 provisional ballots? n/t

[smiley_glad_hands]

80. No, she will have the Democratically controlled BoEs do it.

[PuppyBismark]

64. These voters can still vote a provisional ballot and it should count

I am an election judge in Ohio. As part of our training this spring, this topic was discussed. Voters who are marked as moved, can still vote a provisional ballot. The provisional judge then documents the facts and the voter encloses his/her ballot in a provisional envelope. These ballots are then returned for counting. A few days after the election, the voter can contact the county board of elections to find out if the ballot was accepted or not.

We were also trained on how to help the voter go to the correct polling place if they moved. They spent a lot of time on this issue and have in place good procedures to get the voter to the correct location to vote if they moved.

Most of the protections are there you would want. Also, there is a Democratic Secy. of State and I think all the head of board of elections are now Democratic based on the Governor being a Democrat.

It's not perfect, but much better than discussed in this posting.

[garybeck]

67. Isn't it true that provisional ballots were not counted in 2004?

and even if they were, it is well after the election results are announced in the media.

[smiley_glad_hands]

70. I do believe the SoS certifies the results and she is dem.

One would think that all the provisional ballots would be included in the final tally. I hope anyway.

[garybeck]

75. what your missing is the fact that

the media calls the election on election night. and many provisional ballots are rejected.

provisional ballots might be better than nothing, but they are not the way to vote!

[smiley_glad_hands]

78. What you are missing is the fact that Ohio law allows for caging.

The repugs are going to do it. If the dem SoS counts the provisionals prior to certifying the vote, then it will be as fair an election as one is going to get in Ohio.

[meow2u3]

164. I wouldn't be surprised if the shoe were on the other foot this election cycle

I mean, the repunks getting caged--getting a taste of their own medicine. :evilgrin:

[Breeze54]

77. Everyone needs to go and check their Voter Status ASAP!!!

Do it NOW!!!

:kick: & Recommended

[InkAddict]

85. Ohio Election Registration Check page is, imagine that,

temporarily not available at 3:25 AM

[Breeze54]

86. People have feet, don't they?! Get on your feet, your wheelchair and go to registrar's office asap!!

;)

[InkAddict]

89. We're a family whose address has recently changed .

We're re-registered with the Board of Elections, I think, and got our cards indicating polling place, but still need to shell out for new photo driver's licenses so addresses match when we show up; thus, an about $50 poll tax.

[Breeze54]

97. I can update my license at no charge... what's the charge in your location?

:shrug:

[InkAddict]

126. We need photo ID to vote in Ohio

http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/driver_license/ol_fees.htm

PLUS DEPUTY REGISTRAR FEES

First Driver License

(age 21 or older)
$ 23.00

(age 20)
$ 19.25

(age 19)
$ 20.50

(age 18)
$ 21.75

(age 17)
$ 23.00

(age 16)
$ 24.25

Renewal
$ 24.00

Duplicate /Replacement
$ 19.50

Moped License
$ 19.50

CDL Temporary Permit
$ 25.50

First CDL License
$ 42.00

Renewal CDL
$ 43.00

CDL Add Endorsement
$ 43.00

Duplicate / Replacement CDL

[suffragette]

87. "Secretary Brunner Clarifies Challenge Laws To Protect Voters"

I went to the Ohio SOS site and found this. Looks like a good step, but also looks like it might help if people in Ohio contact their state reps to support the change Brunner's requesting.


Secretary Brunner Clarifies Challenge Laws To Protect Voters

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/PressReleases/2008%20Press%20Releases/20080905.aspx

9/5/2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner took action Friday to protect the rights of all eligible Ohio voters and to protect boards of elections from litigation likely to arise from Ohio law that presents conflicts with federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

Providing guidance to local election officials, Secretary Brunner directed that 60-day notices sent by boards of election to voters that are returned as undeliverable cannot be used as the sole reason for cancelling an Ohioan’s voter registration. These notices are required by law to be sent to voters by boards of elections.

Secretary Brunner also called on the General Assembly to amend this voter registration challenge law passed in 2006, urging that the law conflicts with federal law and violates the U.S. Constitution.

“As we prepare for a November 4, 2008, election where every eligible voter who wants to vote should be able to do so freely, we seek to protect Ohioans’ fundamental right to vote – to have their voices heard on critical decisions about all levels of their government,” Secretary Brunner said.

More at link

[Breeze54]

88. Is Secretary Brunner a Democrat? At any rate, seems like she's 'on the ball'!

Call, go there in person, or as last resort... use the internet but VERIFY your voting status ASAP!

;)

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[elaineb]

102. And a couple of related news links

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/09/06/copy/challenges.ART_ART_09-06-08_B1_8FB8CBQ.html?adsec=politics&sid=101">Disputed voters to get hearing, Brunner orders

http://www.ohio.com/news/ap?articleID=747914&c=y">Ohio elections chief challenges registration law

[TOOLZ]

90. SEE HOW THIS GAME WORKS IN NEW FILM

http://freeforall.tv

FREE FOR ALL!

One Dude's Quest to Save Democracy

[YvonneCa]

193. I was hoping you were...

...over here. :7 Great film!

[flamingdem]

91. Article on voting changes in Ohio

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=213&sid=1458801

EXCERPT:
Ohio voting law may be a boon for Obama supporters
August 13, 2008 - 11:28pm
In this June 26, 2008, file photo Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tries to help a supporter use a cell photo to take a picture after a campaign at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ohio has created a window in the election calendar that would allow residents to register one minute, vote the next, and has given the campaigns of Democrat Barack Obama and McCain a chance to bank thousands of first-time voters during that Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 window. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
By PHILIP ELLIOTT
Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Never mind the last days of the presidential campaign. The busiest days for Barack Obama's campaign in this perennial swing state are likely to be a month before Election Day.

Ohio has created a window in the election calendar that would allow residents instant gratification _ register one minute, vote the next. It's also given the campaigns of Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain a chance to bank thousands of first-time voters during that Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 window.

The move will benefit Obama, who enjoys a 2-to-1 lead over McCain among 18- to 34-year-olds, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released last month. If Obama's campaign were able to tap into college campuses with one-stop voting, it would add thousands of votes to his tally in a state where, in 2004, John Kerry lost to President Bush by only about 118,000 votes, putting Bush over the top in the electoral count.

Of the more than 470,000 students enrolled in Ohio's public colleges and universities in 2006, the most recent figures available, nine out of 10 were Ohio residents, the state Board of Regents said. To register to vote in Ohio, a person must be a resident of the state for at least 30 days immediately before an election.

Ohio elections officials say they are working out potential kinks, such as questions about whether a vote counts when it is cast or when it's counted. They also are trying to address potential fears of massive voting fraud, and what effect this influx is going to mean on vote security.

Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Wednesday issued a directive advising county elections boards that they must have procedures in place to allow voters who register to be immediately issued an absentee ballot. She said boards can delay voting if they have concerns over the validity of a registration.

Brunner said absentee ballots are verified once they are cast and counted after polls close Election Day.

Allowing voters to cast their ballots weeks before Election Day is a growing trend. More than a dozen states permit early voting, and more than two dozen provide an absentee ballot to any registered voter for any reason. The battleground states of Colorado, Florida, Nevada and New Mexico allow voters both options.

In Ohio, Republicans are clearly not pleased with same-day registration and voting and have not ruled out a lawsuit against Brunner's office.

"You have to wonder, when they look at what they consider a loophole with such excitement," said Jason Mauk, the Ohio Republican Party's executive director. "That would suggest manipulating the process, and I think opens the door to suspicion."

The voting window, so far, is only being implemented in some counties _ typically, urban areas or those with college campuses _ leading Republicans to cry foul.

"The prospect of someone coming in with no ID and registering and voting is contrary to every sort of protection that legislators and lawmakers have built into this system for decades," said Kevin DeWine, a Republican lawmaker who is poised to take over the state party after the election. "The processes and the law and the systems in our 88 counties are not equipped to handle same-day registration."

People in Ohio can register without identification, but they have to show some sort of ID to vote.

State lawmakers accidentally made the window before the 2006 elections. Obama's campaign is eager to take advantage of it this year.

"This is one of many ways we'll be encouraging our supporters to skip the lines on Election Day and make sure their vote is cast early," said Isaac Baker, an Obama spokesman.

The move is likely to bring Obama to Ohio for nonstop campaigning that week. Also, television ads are expected to be in heavy play as both campaigns try to take advantage of the electoral oddity. And the early push could help neutralize any last-minute attacks by one campaign on the other.

Outside, independent groups also are looking at spending a lot of time on campuses that week. Organized labor and liberal activist groups see a chance to build their numbers.

Obama, 47, has been attracting a strong following on campuses, something his campaign has aggressively targeted. McCain, 71, has made attempts but has struggled.

Ohio has been a must-win state for presidential candidates during past cycles, but Obama advisers had been weighing a move to skip it. He lost 83 of 88 counties during his fierce primary campaign against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Some Democrats privately fear the map in the general election against McCain will look very similar.

Obama has trailed in support from rural voters and white, working-class voters. He hasn't campaigned in rural areas, despite advice from Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, whose aggressive rural strategy helped him win his job in 2006 and was repeated for Clinton during March's primary.

But Obama advisers now look at Ohio's campuses as a possible way to offset the losses.

It has Ohio Republicans frustrated. Traditionally, young people make a lot of noise about elections and then stay home. If they don't actually have to turn up at the polls on Election Day, then they might take a greater interest.

Mauk said if Brunner doesn't apply the "loophole" in all counties, lawsuits are an option Republicans have to consider.

The secretary of state's spokesman acknowledged the window exists.

"Instructions are being developed and being sent to boards of election across the state to make sure voting is consistent," said Jeff Ortega, Brunner's spokesman.

Its impact is going to be felt in non-presidential races as well. For instance, Ohio State University is the largest college in the country, with more than 52,000 students enrolled on its main campus in Columbus. Democrats are eyeing it as key to helping Mary Jo Kilroy win her House seat to replace Republican Deborah Pryce, who is not seeking re-election.

"There is no question that the huge effort to register and turn out voters at Ohio State University is going to have a positive impact on our race," said Brad Bauman, a spokesman for Kilroy.

Ohio election law for the first time will allow voters to cast a presidential ballot by mail for any reason. In the past, there were specific provisions by which voters could cast a ballot early. But the law was changed; this is the first national general election in which it will be in play.

In 2004, more young people cast ballots than any other time since 18- to 20-year-olds earned the right to vote in 1972. Turnout in 2004 was up 11 percentage points over 2000.

Even so, 47 percent of eligible 18- to 24-year-old voters didn't cast a ballot that year. During 2002's midterm elections, 82 percent of that group said they did not vote.

(Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
also on wtopnews.com

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also on the web

* Governor is running on borrowed cash
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* Armstrong seeking position, but admits he'll play catchup to Turner


By PHILIP ELLIOTT
Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Never mind the last days of the presidential campaign. The busiest days for Barack Obama's campaign in this perennial swing state are likely to be a month before Election Day.

Ohio has created a window in the election calendar that would allow residents instant gratification _ register one minute, vote the next. It's also given the campaigns of Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain a chance to bank thousands of first-time voters during that Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 window.

The move will benefit Obama, who enjoys a 2-to-1 lead over McCain among 18- to 34-year-olds, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released last month. If Obama's campaign were able to tap into college campuses with one-stop voting, it would add thousands of votes to his tally in a state where, in 2004, John Kerry lost to President Bush by only about 118,000 votes, putting Bush over the top in the electoral count.

Of the more than 470,000 students enrolled in Ohio's public colleges and universities in 2006, the most recent figures available, nine out of 10 were Ohio residents, the state Board of Regents said. To register to vote in Ohio, a person must be a resident of the state for at least 30 days immediately before an election.

[ellie]

108. I volunteer for Obama

in Toledo and we are really pushing early voting:

"This is one of many ways we'll be encouraging our supporters to skip the lines on Election Day and make sure their vote is cast early," said Isaac Baker, an Obama spokesman."

I am glad that this was posted. We are going to turn Ohio BLUE!

[EFerrari]

133. If you have an in with Obama / OH, tell them they must have people

verify their registration, too. Early voting is great but a lot of our voters will miss that window.

Thanks for your work, ellie. :hi:

[flamingdem]

93. Also a thread started in GD Presidential

for people who hang out there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6960146

[FVZA_Colonel]

94. I truly hope the Obama campaign won't take this lying down.

[garybeck]

105. don't hold your breath.

I'm patiently waiting for even a small sign that the Obama campaign (or the DNC) is going to do anything about this or any of the other election fraud issues.

[flamingdem]

120. You can do something. Don't expect the Obama campaign to do everything. Check this link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6929299&mesg_id=6929299

[FVZA_Colonel]

127. Good.

Thank you for that information.

[blondeatlast]

180. Thank you for that! nt

[KharmaTrain]

96. I'd Email This To Josh Marshall At TPM

He's been following caging closely and may verify the scope of what's going on here as well as any actions being done to counteract this residue of the Blackwell era.

Ohio's votes are going to be counted by Democrats this year, but GOOP games can still make a big mess of things. I'm hoping, if the SOS is alert to this, and she's a Democrat, so is the DNC. If not, I'm sure Josh Marshall and DKos could get some eyes and attention.

Cheers...

[MagickMuffin]

98. I just sent this info along to someone I know working in the Obama National Campaign

My field organizer during the primaries was so GOOD at his job, that the Obama National Campaign office recognized his talent and requested he move to Chicago. He left here this past June and we are still in contact, so I thought he might be a good source to pass this along to the campaign.

Here is the email I sent him:

This has been brought to my attention and since you are working on the National campaign, I thought you should be aware of this. This is how the republicans "win" elections. Please pass this along to the Obama campaign and make sure they are aware of this also. I have added the whole article below. I apologize about the length, but it is IMPORTANT. I'm extremely concerned about this. I witnessed this last time around in '04 when Ken Blackwell "helped" steal Ohio for his party. I do NOT want to see this happen again.
NOT THIS TIME.

Please let me know about any follow ups.

_______________________________________________

If you know of other field organizers that could benefit from this info then pass it on to them. We have to keep up the fight and forward as much info as we can.

[garybeck]

103. Great, please let me know if you hear back

i am still waiting for the first sign that the Obama campaign recognizes any problems with the election. so far crickets. not a good sign.

[TexasObserver]

100. This is how the GOP suppresses the vote.

They wait until the last possible moment, send out notices requiring registration or acknowledgement, and cull the voting rolls so late that people have little time to assert their right to vote. Its intention is to get rid of voters who live in apartments, which means lower income voters.

[Time for change]

101. Why is this happening?

Blackwell is gone. They have a Democratic governor and SOS. Why are they doing that?

[garybeck]

104. Evidently the law was written in 2005.

and it's not just Ohio. It's happening in many states. check gregpalast.com

[Time for change]

109. "has the potential to determine their eligibility to vote"

If that is the key phrase, then surely there is no requirement that a voter be determined ineligible to vote just because s/he doesn't respond to the mailing. Do you believe that a Democratic administration will determine voters to be ineligible based on that?

[blm]

110. And THIS is where Dean and Ohio Dem officials need to start flexing their newly acquired muscle.

THIS is why I said all along the job of securing the election process has to be done by Dems state by state in the months BEFORE election day.

[EFerrari]

116. Howard sent a response to a DUer when we asked him to please

put a vote protection program together. In that response, iirc, he described one. If it's being implemented, it's being done very quietly because I haven't heard anything about it.

[flamingdem]

118. I asked two DNC reps. They are focused on lawsuits. It takes lots of resources

and time. Guess what? They are overloaded.

Check these links about what you can do:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6929299&mesg_id=6929299

[EFerrari]

131. That isn't what Howard's letter described.

And, if people in swing states can possibly work election protection, they should find a local reputable group and put some hours him.

[Joanne98]

111. I told you so!!!!!

[L. Coyote]

112. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

[Kablooie]

113. If nothing has been done to prevent this by now, it's too late. We may have lost Ohio again.

Is this election going to Cain and the Keystone Kops again?!!!

[AzDar]

114. K & R ...

:kick:

[Name removed]

115. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Phred42]

117. Palast told us this was coming 6+ months ago - So what has the Democratic 'leadership" done about it

looks like nadda

Heckova Job

[flamingdem]

119. No time for whining. Here are links so you can empower yourself and do something

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6929299&mesg_id=6929299


The DNC has some lawsuits going but the grass roots has to pick up the ball.

[Phred42]

123. Who's whining? Just pointing something out

go phuck yourself

[flamingdem]

130. What have you done for We the People lately? Just pointing something out nt

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

124. I'm a little confused here. The "state" (Gov., SOS) are Dems now, right?

So why would they send out a mass mailer that would be used as the basis of a voter challenge/caging?

How would the Republicans have access to the "nondeliverable" list to challenge the voters?

What's this all about?

[EFerrari]

132. Because the law is stll on the books, a Blackwell leftover.

Brunner is pushing to amend the law, though. And she's said that a returned item is NOT sufficient grounds to drop a registration.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

154. So the Republicans passed this law, still expecting to be in power. But since they

are not, and Democrats control the SOS, how would Republicans even have access to the list of "undeliverable" to make challenges?

If the law actually MANDATED that "undeliverable" resulted in a dropped registration, that would be one thing, but it doesn't sound like it does.

[clear eye]

165. Because the law mandates that the undeliverable list be open to the public. (see upthread) n/t

[EFerrari]

209. They're going to try it anyway. Bet on it.

That's why we need to hook up with election protection people in OH, in FL, in swing states, because this year will make 2004 look like Sunday School.

[Beregond2]

125. Thanks to those who helped me understand this.

One more question, if I may: what happened to that anti-caging law that some congressman proposed last fall? (And I'm not asking to avoid doing "research," but to raise the topic for discussion.)

[dana_b]

129. Is a state i.d. required to vote in Ohio? n/t

[Blue Diadem]

135. ID may include a current and valid photo ID, military ID, copy of

a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than this reminder or a voter registration notification, that shows the voter's name and current address.

Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by providing the last 4 digits of the voter's social security number and by casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the above forms of ID, including a social security number will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot.
----------------------------------------
Above taken from back of notification we received today.

[pleah]

139. Now they are not even hiding the fact that they are going to try to steal

this election, too.

[valerief]

141. keek

:kick:

[mcollier]

143. Don't let em steal your vote my friends...

[bkkyosemite]

144. Can't they get the word out on TV and the voters who have moved can go to the election office to

get the info. and change of address registered. Or is there something I'm missing ...is the only way they will acknowledge you is through that mailing?

[Uncle Joe]

149. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, garybeck.

[barbtries]

150. what is the proper response to this?

this is SO FUCKED UP

[barbtries]

152. i kept one address for 10 years

just for voting. "A similar mailer in March netted nondeliverable mail from almost 600,000 registered voters in just five Ohio counties who could now have their ballots thrown out for voting under the wrong address."

what the fuck? they're still US citizens with the right to vote? that is a weak and slimy way to go about denying a citizen their inalienable RIGHT to vote. damn these fucks to hell.

i've thought for some time if i had to describe the one big difference between democrats and republicans that would preclude me from ever being a republican or voting republican is this: as far as republicans are concerned, the ends justify the means. they will do this to win no matter how sullied their win would then be. and then just like fucking BUSH, they'll take over the administration and pound this nation even further into the ground.

i hate hate, but i hate them more! :argh: :grr::nuke:

[Ken Burch]

156. Doesn't Ohio have a Dem Secretary of State now?

I thought that was supposed to immunize the state from vote caging.

[clear eye]

162. They do, but it doesn't

Many of the county commissioners are still Republican, and a law left from the bad old days allows each party to do its own caging mailings and demand removal of ballots based on the results.

[davidwparker]

169. Everybody CALL your city's registrar and make sure you are still listed.

This will not take long and it will make sure you can vote -- if there is funny business, you can register again.

[EC]

170. It says that the Obama team has asked for the list of all

returned names...so my guess is he's got a team set to go out and find these people and get them registered....

It also said the Obama team is the ONLY one who asked for the list...that means McCain doesn't want to find these voters...well, I wonder why? :sarcasm:

[George II]

171. Didn't see the actual mailer (it hasn't been posted, has is?) but...

.....mailers like this happen all the time. I get on periodically from the town registrar here in CT. I asked what it was all about, and it's just a formality. If the recipient does NOT respond that doesn't mean the recipient is purged from the rolls.

I think we're all a little on edge, especially when we hear "Ohio" or "Florida".

I doubt very much that anything will come of it with respect to disqualifying voters.

[maseman]

174. The mailer says RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

That means that they do not forward the mailer to the new address but rather it gets returned to the state. Once it is returned those individuals are put on a voter purge list.

I live in Ohio and got mine today. I am looking at it as I type.

[bkkyosemite]

182. Return Service Requested. If UAA, the mailpiece is returned with the new address or

reason for nondelivery; no charge.

http://www.usps.com/ncsc/addressservices/moveupdate/ace.htm

[bkkyosemite]

183. So is the post office saying they will return it with a new address..

[George II]

201. Mine said the same thing...

....my wife refused to send it back, and not she was not purged.

I'm a Democratic official in our town, I asked the Democratic registrar, she said it means nothing.

[Botany]

185. Do not worry about this .... Jennifer Brunner is on the Job!

I am proud to call her a friend and I e-mailed her about this problem ....

Here is what i got back:

Hi xxx,

Hope you are well. Of course I remember you. We just issued a directive yesterday that is designed to combat the harmful effects of the legislation (which, by the way, sunsets at the end of this year), that requires the nonforwardable mailing of the 60-day notice. The directive prohibits the cancellation of voter registrations on the sole basis of a returned 60-day notice and requires a hearing to be held before the election. I will be asking the legislature to make changes to this law. Here’s the directive, though. Take care.

Jennifer

if anybody sends me their e mail by p.m. I will send along the pdf file she sent me.

<Dir2008-79.pdf> pdf file

[bkkyosemite]

186. Thank you Botany for this infomation.

:-)

[YvonneCa]

194. Did you see this...

... http://freeforall.tv/

[farmbo]

199. Brunner's bold move a possible game changer...

Columbus Dispatch Article:

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/09/06/copy/challenges.ART_ART_09-06-08_B1_8FB8CBQ.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

Disputed voters to get hearing, Brunner orders

Ohio voters can't have their registration canceled without a hearing if their eligibility is challenged before the election this fall, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner said yesterday. Brunner issued the directive regarding voter challenges, a controversial issue in the 2004 presidential election in Ohio that could become a factor again this year, to county boards of elections. She concluded that a 2006 state law is unconstitutional because it could allow elections boards to cancel a voter's registration without a hearing based only on mail being returned as undeliverable.

A notice of the Nov. 4 election was to be mailed yesterday to all registered voters in the state. Some activists fear the notices that are returned will be used to challenge the right of those voters to cast ballots this fall. In 2004, the Ohio Republican Party challenged more than 35,000 voters on that basis, arguing that the returned mail indicated that the voters no longer lived at the addresses where they were registered and fraud was possible.

But Brunner noted that mail can be returned because of error or other reasons, including when it is held for a vacation, and that returned notices affect more minority and low-income voters, who move more frequently than other voters. Returned mail cannot be the sole source of a challenge. It also requires that every voter challenged by the Oct. 15 deadline be notified and that a hearing be held before Election Day so the voter can respond..<snip>

BTW...

Ken Blackwell and the outgoing Taft(R) administration passed an abysmal lame-duck GOP voter law in Ohio in December 2006; just before Strickland and Brunner were sworn in.

Jennifer's is making the best of this bad situation-- and is facing well-financed GOP litigation at every turn-- but this move could be a game changer. Requiring BOEs to hold actually hold hearings before caging voters really defeats the purpose of cajing in the first place.The GOPers need to avoid due process in order for their scheme to work.

Thanks Jennifer!
:bounce:

[EFerrari]

208. Good, but the point is, the law is still on the books and we still need to

get the word out because the vampires will try to rip off people's vote.

We can't expect her to do it all. We MUST help Ohio voters and voters in other targeted states to protect their franchise. Expecting other people to secure our elections got us exactly HERE.

lol

[Anticon]

192. I am a Floridian,

and when I moved I went to the DMV and changed the address on my license. They asked me there if I wanted to register to vote. I said yes, however when I went to the polling place, I was not registered and the poll worker said she didn't know why the DMV asks that since they don't do the registrations.

I URGE Everyone who has moved recently to re-register I was tricked by the assholes at the (Jeb Bush run) DMV.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[judasdisney]

196. Shhhhh -- we're not supposed to talk about Election Fraud. Pelosi says it's tinfoil.

[Flagrante]

198. DNC should do the same thing in heavily republican areas

[NEOhiodemocrat]

202. I am in Ohio

and our family of voters recieved our mailing today. Luckily we all seemed to get one, so hopefully no problem.

[Mark D.]

204. Counter Offensive

Many great ideas here on how to defend the rights of the targeted to still vote, Democrats of course targeted by the Republicans. We'll have the assholes stand up and challenge certain folks right to vote at polling places, etc. With Democrats running what was run by the GOP operative last time, there should be not as much of an issue with machines. I say should, I am sure there is and we need to make sure the 'good guys' are doing their job. And we need everywhere we feel such challenges will be made, be it in some boiler room en masse against those who's envelopes were returned, or those assholes standing up to intimidate voters.

I mean a counter-strike, and I don't mean violence. Challenge the person there doing the challenge. On what? You've got me there, I'm no expert. Challenge them to prove their citizenship, for only citizens can do that. Brush off a state ID and say it can be forged, you need a birth certificate, I don't know. Basically provide a debate barrier, turn the tables on them, and let the voter stride by to cast their vote. If Obama wins this, and especially if he gets 8 years, we need to hold him to the promise of change. Away with the electoral college. Electronic voting should be two fold, one touch screen, with a voter verifiable paper, and a re-do if not correct, THEN it goes in a scanning machine. THEN it's hand counted, in a public, auditable way by non-partisans.

Three results, two preliminary, one official once completed (only then is is official). If one is WAY off, you've discovered your fraud source, on sight. It dissuades the hackers. And eliminates the need for 'recounts', as you get one every time. The trouble with recounts is they are only done when there is a close contest. If the hacking GOP operatives can get a wide victory in any smaller scale election, or in any state in the presidential election, chances are, there will be no recount, regardless of exit polls. This is the 100% solution to fix our election problem and this simple model should be in every city and state in the union, in ample numbers to accommodate the wave of new voters and eliminate long lines everywhere. If he leaves office without something as verifiable and safe as this in place, there's no guarantee we'll ever win an election again. This is serious.

[yellowdogintexas]

206. flood your Sec State with phone calls and emails and in addition to the Obama ofices

the County Party Chairperson will have extreme interest as well.

Down here our county org is deep into voter registration because we know the first time voters are a deep resource for us.

sound like Brunner is already checking into this from other posts.

keep hounding that office.