Blackwell(Ohio SOS) Ends Paper Chase (Re:"thin" forms)-Cols. Dispatch

[farmbo]

http://www.dispatch.com/?story=dispatch/2004/09/29/20040929-A1-01.html

Under fire from voting-rights advocates, Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell retreated yesterday from a directive that critics said would slow voter-registration efforts and even block some people from casting a ballot Nov. 2.

At issue is a reminder Blackwell issued this month to county boards of election that voter-registration forms must be printed on "white, uncoated paper of not less than 80-pound text weight," a heavy, cardlike stock.

Critics charged that the confusion and inconsistency threatened to prevent tens of thousands of would-be voters from participating in the general election and could trigger lawsuits challenging the results. They also blasted Blackwell for issuing the directive less than a month before Ohio’s voter registration deadline and at a time when elections officials are working around-the-clock to keep up with record-smashing registration efforts in a presidential battleground state.
<snip>

He finally took a smart pill.

Thanks to DUers, Progressives, and Thinking People everywhere who made their feelings known.

And keep up the pressure...He's still on record as discouraging "provisional ballots"-- required under HAVA-- for voters who come to the wrong polling place.

[Catfight]

1. Hopefully angry buckeyes will oust this idiot! Don't piss off a buckeye!

[trumad]

4. This folks is why the Al Gores Internet is the best thing ever invented!

This was internet driven....

[henslee]

41. No doubt. DU Rapid Response was in full effect.

[asthmaticeog]

7. He's being touted as a contender

for governor. So yes, hopefully my fellow Ohioans will remember this and hasten his viewing of the ass end of his political career.

[liberalnurse]

11. Thus, Jerry Springer looks really good!

[asthmaticeog]

19. Indeed.

I got to hear Springer talk about a year and a half ago when he was considering trying to oust Voinovich (about which, does Fingerhut even stand a snowball's chance?), and was shocked to find myself impressed with him on policy specifics. If he can ditch the silly talk show, I'd be very pleased to see him take the reins in Columbus.

[Hand]

36. I suspected as much...

His official web site is grotesque--it's nothing but a huge political puff piece for Blackwell, including attacks of Bob Taft (current shit-for-brains governor).

Blackwell looks like a thoroughly vile character. I'm sure that this whole ballot paper scam was intended to deliver Ohio to the Repukes and win the swine brownie points with Chimpy; also lots of campaign $$$ for his gubernatorial run.

Looks like it backfired. Which is good. Now if he would just contract bubonic plague...

:evilgrin:

[LiberalFighter]

51. Attacked a member of his own party... shocking!!!

[wildeyed]

53. If he runs for governor, just post a link to whoever runs against him.

I will donate.

[roseBudd]

22. We definitely want the OH African American community talking

about what a sell out Ken "White"well is.

[AngryOldDem]

35. Got an e-mail petition this AM

And almost wrote something to that effect...of all people, Ken Blackwell should know that you just don't mess with someone's voting rights. I just said I was ashamed and disgusted. You kind of have to weigh every letter of every word in every letter you send to your duly elected officials these days.

[henslee]

43. Ahem, I'm white. What are you implying?

[roseBudd]

59. That we want African Americans mad as hell so the turnout

improves.

I called the BUZZ in Cincinnati and they had not heard about it. I also emailed black Cincinnati City Council members.

When it helps our side I am not above playing the race card

[Carla in Ca]

48. Strength in numbers prevail!

n/t

[MallRat]

2. YAY! WE WON!

But I agree- we have to keep his feet to the fire over the provisional ballots.

-MR

[vickie]

3. This is great news. This absolutely makes my day!

[Changenow]

32. We didn't win.

They haven't qualified the disqualified or notified the counties.

[cmd]

5. I just got an e-mail from the Ohio Democratic Party confirming this.

The message reads:


"Blackwell has reversed course on the 80 pound rule. He'll take all the
applications,
Dan"

Thank you, everyone, for helping our. Ohio loves you. cmd

[LisaL]

33. I would like to see Blackwell's new directive

in writing. So far, he didn't issue any new directives.

[Kukesa]

38. We did it! We really did!

Thanks for all your efforts, CMD, and everyone else who signed petitions and wrote letters!

Hooray for us!

[eyeontheprize]

44. The applications received so far are a larger issue than

those remaining. Blackwell gave up almost nothing, the damage has been done.

[City Lights]

6. Yes!

Glad to see our hard work paid off.

:toast: to all who got involved.

[Changenow]

40. We won a battle, they won the war.

There is no word about the registrations disqualified so far. A new directive hasn't been issued.

[Invalence1]

8. I can now go forth to

meet the day with a far lighter heart. Hooray and Huzzah!

[demnan]

9. Wow!

We actually do have a chance to have our votes counted!

[crispini]

10. Yay! We won!

That was beautiful. Two props up to the internet and US!

[sniffa]

13. did we win though?

is it possibLe he's emuLating bush - saying one thing and doing the opposite?

[farmbo]

16. Good point...we need to keep a watchful eye on him...and local BOEs

Many Boards of Election are swamped with newly registered voters and might decide to enforce his initial decree out of sheer sloth and laziness.

Trust but verify!

[LisaL]

24. No, we didn't win.

He did not issue a new directive.
So, it's not over yet! We need to stay on it to make sure counties who were not registering people are actually going to do it, and if somebody isn't registered, democratic party sues promptly!

[spotbird]

26. The Dispatch article raises some concern.

While the Franklin County Board of Elections and others have continued accepting forms submitted on lighter-weight paper, some county elections officials said yesterday they have been disqualifying registrations because the paper was not thick enough.

How many have been disqualified, and will they now be qualified?

[LisaL]

28. Exactly.

I presume thousands and thousands of people could have been disqualified by Blackwell's directive, and the article didn't say if they will be "qualified" now! We should keep in this issue, this is very important, considering only 500 votes in Florida decided the last 2000 "election".

[spotbird]

31. Why are you and I the only ones who can see through this?

What do the others see that we don't?

[eyeontheprize]

46. We "won" almost nothing.

Blackwell didin't issue a new directive. Most importantly those who have been disqualified remain disqualify, whatever he did applies only to pending registration forms.

[Stew225]

12. Thanks for letting me know that

my email (too strongly worded, btw) might have made a difference.

[sniffa]

14. aww, you gotta pay for that site

[spotbird]

27. Try

[e-mail]
asdf

[Kolesar]

15. "I will remind you that people have died to get us that right to vote!"

I left a really angry message on a machine at the SOS office yesterday. I closed with: "I will remind you that people have died to get us that right to vote!"

[farmbo]

17. Save that message for Jeb Bush...we'll need it!

:toast:

[LisaL]

25. He still haven't issued a new "reminder".

His directive was for counties not to accept light weight registrations, and he still did not issue another one. And some counties have admitted they did not accept light weight registrations, and didn't say they will change it. I suppose we should call and e-mail him and demand he issues a new directive in writing!

[Cha]

18. Way to back Down...

kenny boy! Don't try to mess with our sacred voting rights! Not this YEAR! :grr:

[hatrack]

20. Well, well, well - too transparent & capricious even for the GOP

Wonders never cease.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

21. This is excellent news!

[LisaL]

23. He still haven't issued another "reminder" for the counties

to accept the registrations. I don't think it's over.

[spotbird]

30. Lizzy, you get it.

This Dispatch story is a first step, but alone it is meaningless.

But momentum may be lost, which could be the point.

[henslee]

45. Shight! You're right.

[JohnnyCougar]

29. Yay!

I bet our e-mails paid off!!!

[AngryOldDem]

34. People WILL know their rights

I spent a great part of yesterday afternoon stuffing flyers in a newsletter that will be going out this weekend on precinct walks throughout Montgomery County, OH (Dayton). The flyer spells out the law as it concerns voting, including provisional ballots and the rights of ex-cons. At the bottom, there are two numbers people can call if they think their rights are violated on Election Day.

I've volunteered to poll watch -- it could be a very interesting day.

[Zorra]

37. Blackwell still needs to be drug into the town square by Ohio Citizens

and be forced to give a truthful explanation for his actions, which were pretty damn transparently sleazy.

[AngryOldDem]

39. My e-mail to SOS Office

Dear Mr. Blackwell,

Thank you for reconsidering your directive on the paper weight for voter registrations. But I have the following concerns:

1) Have you or will you issue a directive to all Ohio county Boards of Election to accept registrations regardless of paperstock weight? If not, when will you, and will the media be notified?

2) If registrations have been rejected, will they now be reconsidered, or will people have to resubmit them? If they have to resubmit, will they get an extension on the deadline?

3) Finally, will you reconsider your position on provisional ballots?

Thank you for your attention to these questions.

[DeepModem Mom]

42. Please see this thread about appealing to international observers NOW --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x916412

[ElsewheresDaughter]

47. eat that blackwell!

[LiberalFighter]

49. Someone should challenge his vote on Election Day when he shows up

[truthisfreedom]

50. excellent.

good work, people! 8^)

[Skinner]

52. Thanks for posting this.

:thumbsup:

[farmbo]

54. SoS (Ohio)Lifts Order on Voter Forms (Dispatch)...Thursday AM Update

http://www.dispatch.com/default.php?story=dispatch/2004/09/30/20040930-C1-03.html

Lighter paper now deemed acceptable for registration
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Catherine Candisky
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell yesterday issued a revised directive to county election officials telling them to accept voter-registration forms regardless of the weight of the paper on which they are printed.

The "clarification" was a reversal from Blackwell’s Sept. 7 directive telling election officials in Ohio’s 88 counties that they should not accept registration forms unless they were printed on "80-pound text paper," a heavy, cardlike stock.

Yesterday, Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo said, "We want boards to process the forms if they are otherwise valid."
<snip>

His statements of Wednesday left some "wiggle room" for local BOEs. This Revised Order clarifies the new policy.

Good news!

[LisaL]

56. Yey!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

57. Good. Hopefully, this will satisfy the naysayers in this thread.

[citizen]

55. Thanks from Ohio!

Thanks for all of the support from DU in getting Blackwell to back down on the paper-stock issue.

We Ohioans need continued help to keep the pressure on him regarding the possible disallowing of Provisional ballots. The Ohio Democratic party has filed a complaint on this subject which has not yet been addressed.

This issue is of particular interest to me because I am moving within the state in mid-October and may have to vote provisionally.

We need to maintain continued scrutiny and pressure on Blackwell.

I will attempt to track developments on this issue as best I can at http://www.civilthreat.com/ohioalert.htm.

http://www.civilthreat.com

[jwirr]

58. Two Questions:

Al Gores Cable Station - Where can it be accessed?

Now that we know about the power we weld - how and where do we use it next? Florida? Colorado? As a unit we could use this to help make a difference.