Not only does SB 295 represent the MO of Republicans in the past decade, but it's NOT a straight repeal -- an important point most folks, including journalists, have missed. SB 295 codifies one of the most restrictive features of HB 194: prohibition of in-person early voting on the weekend and Monday before Election Day. To bad we don't have a Political Rights commissioner who could suspend Republicans' active participation for a year!
Schools and local government are hurting for money thanks to the political agenda of which political party? Ya know, the one that gave tax cuts to the rich and tanked the economy with deregulation that permitted gambling on derivatives. The gamblers lost and the middle class pays. To meet the challenge, Kasich cuts money to schools and local governments while giving a $140K job to his BFF from Lehman, ending the estate tax, and bringing in carpetbagger Kvamme. NO to Kasich, Corporatism and Issue 2!
My personal preference is hand-counted paper ballots, done in the precinct, on Election Day. That said, we Americans want our results fast. Optical scan of paper ballots is somewhat of an improvement -- at least there is a paper ballot to review, but both scanners and tabulators can be manipulated. Munroe's comment about "malicious intent and a stubby pencil” has little merit in reality. True, someone might change a ballot with a pencil but that's unlikely and if it does happen occasionally, it would usually have little impact. OTOH you can manipulate thousands of votes with one little line of computer programming with a touch screen machine.
There are several ideas worth considering here. First, voting is a right. Buying alcohol, fishing, or flying on a plane are not. Second, many individuals do not have a state-issued ID. Even if it's made available "free," the documentation necessary to get one is unavailable or costly for many individuals (e.g. birth certificate $25).
Ohio already has strict ID law for voting. Revised Code § 3505.18(A)(1) requires "valid photo identification" (http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3505.18). What proposed legislation (HB 159) would do is remove acceptable alternatives for proving identity.
Democrats should stand firm against GOP attack on voters
Not only does SB 295 represent the MO of Republicans in the past decade, but it's NOT a straight repeal -- an important point most folks, including journalists, have missed. SB 295 codifies one of the most restrictive features of HB 194: prohibition of in-person early voting on the weekend and Monday before Election Day. To bad we don't have a Political Rights commissioner who could suspend Republicans' active participation for a year!
April 5, 2012 at 11:23 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Senate Bill 5/Issue 2: How did we get here?
Schools and local government are hurting for money thanks to the political agenda of which political party? Ya know, the one that gave tax cuts to the rich and tanked the economy with deregulation that permitted gambling on derivatives. The gamblers lost and the middle class pays. To meet the challenge, Kasich cuts money to schools and local governments while giving a $140K job to his BFF from Lehman, ending the estate tax, and bringing in carpetbagger Kvamme. NO to Kasich, Corporatism and Issue 2!
October 23, 2011 at 3:21 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Voting in Mahoning to return to paper ballots
My personal preference is hand-counted paper ballots, done in the precinct, on Election Day. That said, we Americans want our results fast. Optical scan of paper ballots is somewhat of an improvement -- at least there is a paper ballot to review, but both scanners and tabulators can be manipulated. Munroe's comment about "malicious intent and a stubby pencil” has little merit in reality. True, someone might change a ballot with a pencil but that's unlikely and if it does happen occasionally, it would usually have little impact. OTOH you can manipulate thousands of votes with one little line of computer programming with a touch screen machine.
September 12, 2011 at 12:25 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Youngstown State University cannot afford faculty strike
How much did moving Bob Evans HQ up the road cost again?
August 21, 2011 at 3:11 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Death of photo ID bill victory for democracy
There are several ideas worth considering here. First, voting is a right. Buying alcohol, fishing, or flying on a plane are not. Second, many individuals do not have a state-issued ID. Even if it's made available "free," the documentation necessary to get one is unavailable or costly for many individuals (e.g. birth certificate $25).
Ohio already has strict ID law for voting. Revised Code § 3505.18(A)(1) requires "valid photo identification" (http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3505.18). What proposed legislation (HB 159) would do is remove acceptable alternatives for proving identity.
August 2, 2011 at 9:24 a.m. permalink suggest removal
GOP lawmakers should heed Ohio Secretary of State Husted
It should also be remembered the Privacy Act prohibits denying service for refusal to provide SS#.
State & Local Govt & Veterans Affairs hearing on HB 224, 7/13, 9am. Rumor has it 9-digit SS# & Photo ID may come up. http://1.usa.gov/eeEgGy
Tell your Senator NO! http://bit.ly/l4UMox
July 9, 2011 at 11:19 a.m. permalink suggest removal