-->Pissed about Ohio disenfranchisement? Get on the phone tomorrow

[jpgray]

614-466-2585

This is the number for the OH Secretary of State, Mr. Blackwell himself. Make a nuisance of yourself. Don't give up until you've made a solid dent. They need to feel the rage people post on message boards no one reads, or fill up disposable emails with--they need to hear it. I'm going to call right at 9AM and I won't stop until I've made my voice heard on this. Posting on a message board is good, sending email or faxes is better, but nothing beats irrevocably making your opinion part of someone's day. Hopefully we can all help to make it a long part of someone's day. :)

Here's the info from DailyKos--read up so you know what you're going on about. Remember, the bullshit meter comes from the fact that the paper weight requirement is an obsolete part of the law--it was enacted because the original forms were mailed as postcards. The requirement was there to make sure the forms weren't damaged when they were mailed as postcards. Obviously there hasn't been a problem on these lines, because they have already been delivered safely.

Note this also from DailyKos:

"Ironically, if an applicant downloaded the federal form onto paper that is not regulation, that application will be accepted in compliance with federal law. So in reality there is no substantive issue with the weight of the paper, the Secretary's order is simply to create a roadblock to limit new registration."

We can make a real difference if we all make it our goal to call in at least once tomorrow and speak our minds about this. Make sure you are heard, because that will help guarantee we all will be in November.

Edit: Don't forget this! From our voting rights:

No person acting under color of law shall deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election

[liberalnurse]

1. Where did the poster at Kos

get his/her facts?

I need a link so I can share and validate for my report to the local media. They ate in denial.

[jpgray]

3. They left a Dayton Daily News link

https://www.daytondailynews.com

It was a hassle to find the article:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0924registration.html

Blackwell's office has told county boards of elections to follow strictly two provisions in Ohio election law:

• One requires Ohio voter registration cards be printed on thick, 80-pound stock paper.

• The other ordered boards to strictly interpret the rules regarding provisional ballots, the ones cast by voters who move before the election but are still registered in Ohio.

The paper-stock issue is frustrating Montgomery County Board of Elections officials, who have a backlog of registrations to complete. If they get an Ohio voter registration card on paper thinner than required, they are mailing a new card out to the voter. But if they still have the backlog by the registration deadline, Oct. 4, voters will not have another chance to get their correct paperwork in, said Steve Harsman, deputy director of the Montgomery County board.

"There is just no reason to use 80-pound paper," Harsman said.

In Montgomery County there is a backlog of around 4,000 registrations, Harsman said. A few hundred could be affected by this provision, he said.

[liberalnurse]

10. I got it........yes, difficult to find......

I shared it with our local tv news media in Dayton....funnny, they never picked up on this....

[Carla in Ca]

25. This story is all over the net

Now I know how * was told Ohio was 'in the bag'. Diebold voting machines owner + Blackwell = repug win...or so they thought.

[Carla in Ca]

21. In the comments section of this story on Dailykos

there is a complete list of all media contacts and email addresses of each county office...what do you want to do?

[MidwestTransplant]

2. And when you call, remind them of this

Pay attention to the last paragraph...

Voting Rights

Section 1971


Sec. 1971. - Voting rights


(a) Race, color, or previous condition not to affect right to vote; uniform standards for voting qualifications; errors or omissions from papers; literacy tests; agreements between Attorney General and State or local authorities; definitions

(1)

All citizens of the United States who are otherwise qualified by law to vote at any election by the people in any State, Territory, district, county, city, parish, township, school district, municipality, or other territorial subdivision, shall be entitled and allowed to vote at all such elections, without distinction of race, color, or previous condition of servitude; any constitution, law, custom, usage, or regulation of any State or Territory, or by or under its authority, to the contrary notwithstanding.

(2)

No person acting under color of law shall -

(A)
in determining whether any individual is qualified under State law or laws to vote in any election, apply any standard, practice, or procedure different from the standards, practices, or procedures applied under such law or laws to other individuals within the same county, parish, or similar political subdivision who have been found by State officials to be qualified to vote;

(B) deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election;

[gristy]

4. Oh yeah.

That's the ticket right there:

No person acting under color of law shall deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election

[jpgray]

5. Great! That pretty much shows this to be against federal law (nt)

[teach1st]

6. Against federal law, but...

..what's the angle? Are Democratic voters more likely to have used the downloaded form? I can't get the Dayton article, so maybe I'm missing something. Why is the Secretary throwing up this roadblock to new voter registration?

[jpgray]

7. Democrats have out-registered Republicans by a vast sum in OH

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/26/politics/campaign/26vote.html

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A sweeping voter registration campaign in heavily Democratic areas has added tens of thousands of new voters to the rolls in the swing states of Ohio and Florida, a surge that has far exceeded the efforts of Republicans in both states, a review of registration data shows.

The analysis by The New York Times of county-by-county data shows that in Democratic areas of Ohio - primarily low-income and minority neighborhoods - new registrations since January have risen 250 percent over the same period in 2000. In comparison, new registrations have increased just 25 percent in Republican areas.

<snip>

"We know it's going on, and it's a very encouraging sign," said Steve Elmendorf, deputy campaign manager for Senator John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee. The new voters, Mr. Elmendorf said, "could very much be the difference."

[teach1st]

9. Thanks!

Now I'm angry, too. Sheesh.

[LisaL]

8. Because new voters are mostly democrats.

[Carla in Ca]

11. Looks like Edwards' "two Americas" theme worked.

We are going to get our country back!

[Dark]

12. KICK! All Ohioans need to read this!

[WLKjr]

13. Amen to that KICK

Ohioans need to be VERY angry right now.....I am dammit. One of these days, if I ever get into an office here in Ohio, things will change for the better under a WLKjr administration. This makes me so angry.

Remember your voting rights and memorize it and take it with you on Nov. 2nd

No person acting under color of law shall deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election.

[WLKjr]

14. I feel a letter to the editor comming on

I will be right back in a little while.

[More Than A Feeling]

15. I feel like making a big deal about this...

Any idea how many underlings I will have to go through before I get to the main man?

Also, the call might be a little ahem obscene, because I will be working on zero hours of sleep. I will be extra peeved.

[jpgray]

16. Other threads on this subject at DU: (more phone numbers)

According to DailyKos, this should be the most direct number. There are others, however, in mzmolly's post below.

mzmolly:

Let's get ready to call/fax/email this arse first thing in the am! Please kick it for me.

Mailing Address:

J. Kenneth Blackwell
Ohio Secretary of State
180 E. Broad St. 16th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

General Telephone Number (Toll Free): 1-877-767-6446
General Telephone Number (Local): 1-614- 466-2655
E-Mail: [e-mail]

slor:

OHIO DUers!!!! WE MUST STOP BLACKWELL!!!

spotbird :

Ohio rejects 1000s of voter registration applications on wrong paper.

[WLKjr]

18. Add this one too

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2420796

[Joanne98]

24. And this just came in....new e-voting whistleblower involves OH and TX

http://blackboxvoting.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=240

At the bottom there's a letter to mail to Blackwell. He's in DOUBLE TROUBLE.......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2421048

Thankyou David.....

[WLKjr]

17. here's the letter I am sending again to local paper

80 pound paper is a big deal to the GOP.
By William Kindle


Have you heard the latest news here in mine and your great state of Ohio? Ohioans are being disenfranchised as I type this by the GOP. If you registered by printing a voter registration form from the internet or got one copied from the Post Office or a friend, the GOP says you have to redo it because it’s on the wrong kind of paper. They waited till this late, September 27, 2004 to tell Ohioans this. The GOP knows they are in trouble here in Ohio from the courthouse to the Whitehouse, Ohio has had unprecedented new registrations this election cycle and the GOP knows it. Most are young, college students and even some other first time voters, quite a few Democrats, and even quite a few Republicans. I know A LOT of people who printed forms from the internet from Ohio websites among other get out the vote sites, all on regular paper with a US postage stamp on them, filled out correctly. Yet the Ohio GOP decides they need to change that, they don’t like people having access to an easier way of registering. So they tell us we need to redo it because it’s the wrong paper. Montgomery County has most of those people who sent in registration forms on regular paper already on the rolls, yet the GOP says its not valid because it’s on the wrong paper. What’s the difference you ask. Well in the desperate attempt to make excuses, like they always do here in Ohio, they say it is messing up machines at the post offices, yet can’t prove it. Ohio’s registration deadline is October 4th, and they decide to pull this out of their bag of dirty tricks to get GOP members elected again so they can further screw Ohioans. If they follow through with this, many of those first time voters will not be able to vote because the Ohio GOP decided their forms were on the wrong kind of paper. Maybe Ohio GOP members need to take a little lesson in voter’s rights:
No person acting under color of law shall deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election.

End of discussion GOP. Stop this pointless nitpicking and disenfranchising Ohio voters by means of purging rolls because of paper issues. If it wasn’t a big deal 6 months ago, then it shouldn’t be one now.
I have one message for Ohio GOP members, enough is enough and it’s time for a change.

Sincerely,
WLKjr, one of those who first registered to vote from a home printed form on regular copy paper back in March.


======================================================================
I have a stamp on a letter envelope right now. Sending it first thing in the morning, along with my call to Blackwell. GOP is a bunch of bastards that do not deserve to lead Ohio. Why do they piss on our state? WHY

[ArnoldLayne]

19. Disenfranchisement of African-American and Working class Democrats in Ohio

will not be tolerated. Call the Ohio Secretary of State or email him immediatly.:kick:

[jpgray]

20. Welcome to DU

Frequenting this board does qualify as a 'strange hobby', I think. :D

[demgrrrll]

22. I e mailed him directly at his web site. He has a Your Vote Counts section

What a joke I am sure this has been linked but it never hurts to re link a good site with instant e mail capability.
<http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/>

[jpgray]

23. Call if you can--it really makes a difference

And a bedtime kick:

:kick:

[NoSunWithoutShadow]

26. Kicky Kick

For Tuesday morning.

:kick:

[liberalnurse]

27. This thread needs kicked.....

:kick:


I'm really motivated!

[citizen]

28. Blackwell's own form is not on 80 lb stock!

I have in my hands a copy of a 2004 Ohio Voter Registration form. It is actually a part of a "Vote" brochure with J. Kenneth Blackwell's name all over it.

The last 8 1/2 x 11 page of the brochure is an 8/2 X 11 sheet containing the Voter Registration Form on one side and Blackwell's Address at the Statehouse on the revers, so it can be folded in half and mailed in.

The entire brochure is printed on REGULAR PAPER STOCK. While, I am not a paper specialist I know that this is not on 80 Lb. Stock!

Please make a point of mentioning this to Mr. Blackwell if you are lucky enough to reach him!

http://www.civilthreat.com

P.S. I'll post some additional info and pictures of the Blackwell form later today.

[Skinner]

29. Good catch, citizen.

If you start a new thread with this piece of information, and then nominate it, I'll gladly add this to the homepage.

[citizen]

30. Posted!

Thanks!

[elehhhhna]

31. Cool! Busy signal for the last hour (several redials) hope it's DUerss!

[neitzert]

32. Responding to the Voter Supression in Ohio

If long distance is an issue for you, try emailing, I have emaield and received several responses to this letter that is a composite of the messages and information found on mydd.com

Send the following email To the Directors of the Ohio Board of Elections: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

And CC: Ken Blackwell: [e-mail]

--Body of email--
DIRECTORS, Matthew Damschroder, Christopher Heizer, Bryan C. Williams, Paula Hicks-Hudson, Michael V. Sciortino, Marilyn A. Jacobcik.

DEPUTY DIRECTORS, Michael R. Hackett, Steven P. Harsman, John N. Schmidt, Jill B. Kelly, Thomas P. McCabe, Kenneth D. Kelleher.


I am writing to request that you resist the unlawful and un-American effort by Secretary of State Blackwell to suppress voter turnout by strictly enforcing a requirement that Ohio voter registration cards be printed on thick, 80-pound stock paper. This is a clear violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1971 (42 U.S.C. 1971), which states, "No person acting under color of law shall . . . deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election." It is strongly reminiscent of the Jim Crow laws Southern segregationist Democrats used to deter blacks from voting, such as poll taxes and literacy tests -- the very laws that the Voting Rights Act was specifically designed to strike down. Ohio, and especially the Ohio Republican Party, are better than this; Senator Robert Taft Jr. was one of the strongest backers of the Voting Rights Act. I hope that you will not allow the stain of such antidemocratic practices to tarnish your state's proud legacy.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

[newyawker99]

38. Hi neitzert!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Missy Vixen]

33. Okay, folks, I got through with no problem -- START CALLING!

The woman I talked to could not care less about my comments. It seems I'll be writing Secretary of State Blackwell a letter.

If you all think about it, you might also want to get your state's Kerry/Edwards campaign offices involved in this as well.

Julie

[WLKjr]

34. I will email them, I have been working for

the next county over from mine's office. I will referr them to it.

[Arugula Latte]

35. I got through on Monday.

Damn I'm fuming.

[jpgray]

36. Well, I got through--they sounded none too happy about it

:D

If you haven't called yet, please do!

[jpgray]

37. One last kick--call if you can!

:kick:

[jpgray]

39. To the top

This is really important--please help out those in Ohio who will be disenfranchised. Call, write and email Blackwell, the news media and other concerned parties promptly and often.