Ohio Voter Purge

[Lori Price CLG]

Ohio Voter Purge --by Steven Monroe
http://www.legitgov.org/essay_monroe_ohio_voter_purge_071904.html

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.

<snip>

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

[freetobegay]

1. They lost the battle in Florida

Ohio was the logical next step for them.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. Hmmm. And this after the NY Times Magazine cover article on Ohio's

swing state status and everything. Hmmmm. Jeez, ya don't think that republicans are tampering with the voter rolls, do ya? Nah, they'd never stoop that low......right?

[lovedems]

3. Thanks for bringing this to light, Lori!

When I read the article, it is obvious this has been a work in progress for the last 3 years. Makes you wonder what % of democratic voters were purged for Bush's sake! I guess since the CEO of Diebold was busted for his comments, they are glad PLAN B was in place.

Can you gain access to the list or would you have to sue like CNN did in Florida? It would be interesting to see the list, dating back to 2000. Since so many people only vote in a presidential election, there are probably many who were purged over the past couple of years and won't realize it until they go to the polls this November.

[Lori Price CLG]

4. Thank you, and that's a great idea, about trying to get the whole list...

BTW, Republicans are reportedly going to post 'observers' (Reichwing thugs) at over 30,000 election sites. My thinking here is they will sue to overturn the election if Kerry wins.

That is when American Revolution #2 will begin. :bounce:
:)-Lori Price

[lovedems]

5. If they follow the same script, be sure to look for flyers placed all over

the state with "Bring your identification. If you have any outstanding warrants, you will be arrested. If you haven't paid your rent, you cannot vote" and all of the other stupid BS they engaged in, in Florida to scare people away from the polls.

They seem to be sticking to the script, so it is probably coming!

[Frances]

16. The Repubs passed out that lit about ID, warrants, rent etc

in Maryland in 2002 when Repub Erhlich was elected governor.

Nothing was done about it.

Also, the Repubs paid people to campaign for Ehrlich on election day which was against MD law. Nothing was done about this either.

[Earth_First]

10. Explain "American Revolution #2" to me...

Tell me it consists of more than picketing with signs...

[Lori Price CLG]

26. J'espère...

"Tell me it consists of more than picketing with signs..."

French. Translated: I hope.

:)-Lori

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

24. The Repugs did this in Orange County

When "B-1 Bob" Dornan was running for re-election against Loretta Sanchez the Repugs posted at polling places in Latino communities "guards" who wore uniforms that closely resembled those worn by Immmigration officials. It was purely aimed at intimidating new citizens who weren't too sure how solid their legal status was.

BTW, the Democratic candidate is now Rep. Loretta Sanchez.

[Judi Lynn]

25. Thanks for the information. Never heard this before reading your post.

It's TOTALLY similar to the things we've read the did in Florida and Tennessee. It surely has that "bully" signature.

I'd love to see all the ill-will right-wingers have spread around the world handed back to them.

[Sydnie]

8. Not sure how Ohio works but if you tap a dem running for state wide office

in my state, they should have been provided with a list of all registered voters when they returned their candidate papers. Even if the candidate had to pay for the list from the state registrar, I am sure that they would make it available to anyone that would volunteer for them. Possibly to anyone that would ask, if they supported the cause for which it would be used. After all, at least in my state, voter registrations are considered a public document.

[newyawker99]

28. Hi Sydnie!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Joanne98]

6. You should post this in

The state forum too. Just to make sure all the Ohio DUer's see it.

[Lori Price CLG]

7. Thank you, good idea. I'll do that. N/T

[mefoolonhill]

9. Ohio....

The Kerry/Edwards campaign has organized a team of 2000 lawyers to make sure there are no voting irregularities in the upcoming election. Make sure that this Ohio story is conveyed to the Kerry people....

[soup]

11. Do these numbers seem weird?

Is there a historical pattern that it runs this way? Does this just seem off to anyone else?

In 2001, 22,157 registrations were canceled because of move out of the county, death or felony conviction. 70,804 registrations were canceled because of inactivity (not voting in four years including two federal elections).

In 2002, 19,126 registrations were canceled because of move out of the county, death or felony conviction. 949 registrations were canceled because of inactivity.

In 2003, 12,525 registrations were canceled because of move out of the county, death or felony conviction. 35,824 registrations were canceled because of inactivity.

70,804 - followed by 949 - followed by 35,824 - That's quite a difference.

[Toucano]

13. A possible explanation.

The odd years are larger than the even years because they're going be federal election cycles (every two years).

In 2001, you're cancelling registrations for people who voted in 1996, skipped 1998 and skipped 2000.

Since more people register just before a presidential election (1996), there will be more people who could become inactive.

Not sure, just thinking it out. :)

[soup]

14. I see what you're saying,

but it's such a huge difference for the numbers to drop to less than a thousand.

It would help if the numbers for, oh say, the 6 previous years were known, just to see if there's a pattern of such a large difference.

-----
Hope I'm not getting too scattered when I add:
I'm not familiar with the area. Has the actual population decreased as well, or just the number of registered voters?

[Toucano]

18. I'd say the population has likely decreased.

Because Ohio has been losing population lately, BUT that seems like a very big jump.

I found the historical election data, but it isn't separated by county. If it helps...
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/results/many/GenTO78-00.html

Registered Voters/Electors Voting
Ohio General Elections 1978-2000

Election Year Registered Voters Electors Voting Percent Voting
1978 5,181,910 3,017,700 58.24%
1979 5,402,722 2,964,924 54.88%
1980 5,962,864 4,378,937 73.88%
1981 5,640,544 2,906,824 51.53%
1982 5,694,775 3,551,995 62.37%
1983 5,828,004 3,499,354 60.04%
1984 6,332,454 4,664,223 73.66%
1985 6,082,980 2,564,623 42.16%
1986 5,996,430 3,261,870 54.40%
1987 5,822,189 2,759,276 47.39%
1988 6,275,638 4,505,284 71.79%
1989 5,830,757 2,840,926 48.7%
1990 5,912,746 3,620,469 61.23%
1991 5,820,133 2,983,565 51.26%
1992 6,536,936 5,043,094 77.14%
1993 6,204,103 2,815,567 45.38%
1994 6,231,724 3,570,391 57.29%
1995 6,416,133 2,774,300 43.35%
1996 6,879,687 4,638,108 67.41%
1997 7,022,866 3,128,446 44.54%
1998 7,096,423 3,534,782 49.81%
1999 7,146,985 2,467,736 34.53%
2000 7,531,555 4,800,009 63.73%

[soup]

21. to paraphrase our fearless misleader -

'It must be a data record, it has lots of numbers.'

It's sad to see how the percentage who vote drops.

(Note to self: Don't drink a beer then post, you make even less sense than usual.)

[soup]

17. Just realized something,

Why would any voters be removed in 2002? Wouldn't they fall in the same category as those who were removed in 2001?

In 2001, 70,804 registered voters were removed because they didn't vote in 1998 or 2000.
In 2002, 949 registered voters were removed because they didn't vote in (what?) 1998 or 2000? Wouldn't all those voters have been removed the year before?
In 2003, 35,824 registered voters were removed because they didn't vote in 2000 or 2002.

on edit: Is that how it works? Am I missing something?

[Toucano]

19. That's a good point.

If the criteria for removal is not voting in two federal election cycles, the 949 in 2002 should have been removed when they purged for 1998 and 2000.

Maybe the 949 were just overlooked during the previous purge? That might explain why it's such a tiny number compared to the other years.

If we only had one more even year to see a pattern, it might be easier.

I know that they do purge for reasons other than inactivity, such as death and felony conviction, etc.

I think we need an expert to explain this. :)

[dflprincess]

12. Perhaps everyone who is registered

in states that do not allow election day registration should check their status before it's too late to reregister.

[Toucano]

15. That's a great idea.

We should be getting that message out.

Many people who may not have cared to vote in a number of election cycles may want to vote this time not realizing their registration was cancelled.

Call the local Board of Elections to verify that they have you, your address is current, etc.

[Jane Austin]

20. Make sure the Associated Press knows about this.

Aren't they the ones who sued for release of Florida's list?

Or was that CNN - - or both?

[Lori Price CLG]

23. I have a lot of media folks on the CLG newsletter list...

Hopefully, the (mainstream) media will respond and take action.
Lori

[rexcat]

22. Recent article in Cincinnati Enquirer stated that

Hamilton county has seen an increase in out-migration (loss of population in the county) by some 10+% in the past 5 years. It is one of many counties in Ohio who have lost population and one of the highest in the state. That could be one reason for the decrease in voters.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

27. By-Product of Republican Misrule

When Democratic County Commissioner Todd Portune was elected in 2000, he was the first Democrat to hold the position since the late sixties. Hamilton County has been run into the ground by the Republicans who have operated it as though it were a wholly-owned subsidiary. Much of the voter loss you're seeing is people moving to northern Kentucky and to Butler, Warren, and Clermont counties in Ohio.

I wouldn't read anything too sinister into this -- two of the members of the Board of Elections are the Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman and the President of the local AFL-CIO. I don't think they would sit quietly, much less participate, in something like this.

[rexcat]

31. We could use more Democrats in Warren County...

Warren County is a stronghold for the repugs.

[colonel odis]

29. if they're going to post thugs at the polls, then we need to have

people there, too. we can't let a bunch of khaki'd scumbags intimidate people.

and if they're going to go into neighborhoods putting up those signs about bringing your rent money and outstanding warrants, etc., then we need to go through those neighborhoods the day before the election and tear them down.

the crap they pull in 2000 can not be allowed to happen again. if they want to play rough, then we need to play a whole lot rougher.

[bobbieinok]

30. don't wait til the day before....tear down when you see it the 1st time