Ohio: Extra Voting Time - For Republicans Only!

Ohio: Extra Voting Time - For Republicans Only!



From: An unlevel playing field in Ohio
(maddowblog.msnbc.com)

"Ohio headed toward extra voting time for Republicans only."

As Rachel explained on the show last night, there's an ongoing dispute over early-voting rights in Ohio, but the problem does not apply to every part of the state. In Republican-friendly Ohio counties, local officials are making it easier to vote, while in Democratic-friendly Ohio counties, the opportunities will be limited, thanks in part to the efforts of Ohio's Republican Secretary of State, Jon Husted.

From Ohio Early Voting Cutbacks Disenfranchise Minority Voters
(thenation.com)

"I cannot create unequal access from one county board to another, and I must also keep in mind resources available to each county,” Husted said in explaining his decision to deny expanded early voting hours in heavily Democratic counties. Yet in solidly Republican counties like Warren and Butler, GOP election commissioners have approved expanded early voting hours on nights and weekends.

Noted the Cincinnati Enquirer: “The counties where Husted has joined other Republicans to deny expanded early voting strongly backed then-candidate Barack Obama in 2008, while most of those where the extra hours will stand heavily supported GOP nominee John McCain.” Moreover, budget constraints have not stopped Republican legislators from passing costly voter ID laws across the map since 2010.

So in counties that historically support Democrats, the early in-person voting hours have been cut back. In counties that historically support Republicans, those extended early in-person voting hours have been left in place.

This is the same Republicans in Ohio that revoked early in-person voting hours, but kept them in place for the military persons (who historically vote Republican) - which prompted the DNC to file a lawsuit to restore uniform early voting hours to every citizen. (See previous ATS thread: Why Does Mitt Romney Want To Restrict Voting Rights For More Than 900,000 Ohio Veterans?).

Blatant voter fraud from the Republicans / Tea Party.
Blatant voter suppression from the Republicans / Tea Party.
The silence from the right-wing.... is deafening.

Incredible isnt it? Madness all around.

I hope she continues to talk about this on her show.

She does a great job of covering obscure rarely covered topics

Voter suppression is the only way republicans can have a chance at winning in november.

2nd

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


OMG....this pisses me off so bad. Republicans know the only way they can only win is through suppressing votes. Ohio is a swing state, they need it.

THIS IS SO WRONG.

Ohio republicans just passed a law that would give military voters extra privileges. Before the law was passed EVERYONE could vote early. Now ONLY active military can vote the extra 3 days. The rep law violates the constitution.

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

In the 2004 election there were 8 hour lines. The early voting is NEEDED, getting rid of it limits the peoples ability to vote...especially people that live in the city (mainly democrats). Nearly 1/3 of Ohioans used the early time slot last election.

Now the early voting is for military and now republicans only? This is a disgrace and goes against EVERYTHING the USA stands for.

ALL OHIO REPUBLICANS NEED TO BE IMPEACHED FOR ABUSE OF POWER

I never understood why voting was limited to just one specific day. They should set up a two-week timeframe so everyone can vote. Ohio secretary of state deserves to be thrown out for allowing expanded early voting in some counties and limiting it in others, especially dense urban centers like Cleveland. If I saw lines like those, I wouldn't vote either. That's just what the GOP wants, too.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


Yep.

I just saw this today. This is blatantly wrong. Anyone who defends this is a fraud and full of sheeet.

Republicans suppressed democratic votes in Pennsylvania as well...and even admitted it was so that Romney could win.

Michael Turzai - Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

An analysis of state data related to Pennsylvania's new voter ID law suggests that minority voters in Philadelphia will have a tougher time than white voters in getting the credentials to vote in November.

The study found that voters in the city's most heavily African American voting divisions are 85 percent more likely to lack PennDot credentials than voters in predominantly white divisions.

And voters in heavily Hispanic neighborhoods are more than twice as likely to lack PennDot ID, the study showed. Manik-Perlman said there was a similar pattern in heavily Asian neighborhoods.

articles.philly.com...

reply to post by RealSpoke


WTF. Listen to what this guy (PA state rep Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny)) says:

"Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done.”

source: Turzai: Voter ID Law Means Romney Can Win PA

Yep, the fix is in, all right.

That reminds me of when the CEO of Diebold Walden O'Dell made the statement that his electronic voting machines were "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to [Bush] next year."

In Republican-friendly Ohio counties, local officials are making it easier to vote, while in Democratic-friendly Ohio counties, the opportunities will be limited

These people should be tried and executed for treason, IMO.

What teh hell America? The bastion of all things democracy - or maybe not? You could find a more legit election in North Korea than the United States.

reply to post by RealSpoke


Where did your link say they were suppressing Dem votes?

Are you assuming all "minorities" are Dems?

What is wrong with verifying someone is eligible to vote?

Maybe they need a little more time to figure out the ballot.

reply to post by CB328


Yeah right, these are the ones that should be tried for treason.

However, I do believe if you do it in one county you should do it in all counties. It should be state wide.

reply to post by murphy22


Counties that historically vote Dem have their early voting hours curtailed.

Counties that historically vote Repub have extended early voting hours.

That will give voters in counties who traditionally vote Repub more time to vote. It will give voters who live in counties that traditionally vote Dem fewer early voting hours.

reply to post by murphy22


The Ohio issue has nothing to do with voter ID.

I'm not against the voter ID issue at all, it makes sense to me. I just think the republican motivations behind it are more than obvious, they even admitted it that it was just so that Romney could win PA. Minorities are statistically democrats, as well with poor people of any race...that is who the voter ID laws affect. It isn't hard to put 2 and 2 together.

Okay, still doing reading on the issue, but at first glance, the republicans are being weasely and sneaky. It does the party no good to create an unfair voting environment. Hopefully this'll be rectified.

Will read up more. I honestly don't trust Maddow and her partisan slant, so forgive if I don't follow her ideology in lockstep.

reply to post by RealSpoke


Voter ID is still a voter-suppression tactic. They know most of the really poor don't have $25 to run down to the license bureau to buy a govt issued ID. If they are going to demand everyone be required to carry this type of ID, then the govt should provide it free of charge, and at enough locations so as not to produce a hardship for the poor with no vehicles to commute long distances.

It's strange that it's the party of "smaller govt" that is pushing this expansion of govt bureaucracy. "tea party libertarians" my arse.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


As I replied to CB238: It should be state wide. But I am sure there is a reason it has been suggested. Maybe to create a court case after the election.

I personally don't think voting has the effect you think it does or that it matters who "wins" It is all a puppet show to me. But I do believe who is in office acts like a mental placebo to the people in general. And I would much wrather have happy real Americans than happy socialist leaches and takers. After the beatings the productive Americans have been taking, we deserve a President with believable lies.