Ohio voting law may be a boon for Obama supporters

[babylonsister]

Ohio voting law may be a boon for Obama supporters

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.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OHIO_EARLY_VOTING?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Lasher]

1. And it's not just the collegiate vote

I'm mindful of those long waiting times that always seem to occur in Democratic precincts only.

[babylonsister]

3. Good point; if people vote early, they won't have that problem.

I'm sure many people in Ohio remember those lines, too, and perhaps having to forfeit their vote.

[davidpdx]

2. It will be interesting to see if the Republican slimeballs

actually file a lawsuit. Democracy in action! :sarcasm:

[gal]

4. Thanks for that.

I'm volunteering for him in Ohio, i'll check to see if we are having anything for that planned yet.

[OhioChick]

5. K&R

:kick: