Republican voter suppression in Ohio, Blatant

[Guest]

In Ohio each county is now authorized to decide on the availability of extra evening and weekend early voting hours. These hours outside of the regular "business" hours allow early voting by people who work those regular hours. In previous elections when they were universally available a disproportionate percentage of Democratic voters utilized those extended hours to vote. This data is documented in a study from the University of Akron at
http://www.uakron.edu/bliss/research/archives/2010/EarlyVotingReport1.pdf

"early voters expressed less confidence in the electoral process, reported less campaign contact, and were more likely to be strong Democrats than election-day voters."
The Republicans have now changed the rules for this election. Each county has 2 Dem and 2 Rep officials voting on whether to be open for extended hours. If it is a 2 to 2 tie, the Republican Sec of State breaks the tie for that county. For Cleveland and Columbus which had the highest percent of early voters in the state in 2010, the county vote was 2 Dems yes/2 GOP no and the Sec of State said no extended hours. In the conservative counties the Dem members of the Board of election voted in favor of extended hours as they had in blue counties but amazingly the GOP members in these red counties now voted yes for extended hours. So unless court challenges are successful the citizens of red counties will have much greater access to voting than citizens of blue counties. This is not fair and not accidental. The third large county, Cincinnati has its vote this week. Even the very conservative Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper recognizes what is happening. Voting time a partisan battle | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com (http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201208052259/NEWS0106/308050053)

[Guest]

In Ohio each county is now authorized to decide on the availability of extra evening and weekend early voting hours. These hours outside of the regular "business" hours allow early voting by people who work those regular hours. In previous elections when they were universally available a disproportionate percentage of Democratic voters utilized those extended hours to vote. This data is documented in a study from the University of Akron at
http://www.uakron.edu/bliss/research/archives/2010/EarlyVotingReport1.pdf

"early voters expressed less confidence in the electoral process, reported less campaign contact, and were more likely to be strong Democrats than election-day voters."
The Republicans have now changed the rules for this election. Each county has 2 Dem and 2 Rep officials voting on whether to be open for extended hours. If it is a 2 to 2 tie, the Republican Sec of State breaks the tie for that county. For Cleveland and Columbus which had the highest percent of early voters in the state in 2010, the county vote was 2 Dems yes/2 GOP no and the Sec of State said no extended hours. In the conservative counties the Dem members of the Board of election voted in favor of extended hours as they had in blue counties but amazingly the GOP members in these red counties now voted yes for extended hours. So unless court challenges are successful the citizens of red counties will have much greater access to voting than citizens of blue counties. This is not fair and not accidental. The third large county, Cincinnati has its vote this week. Even the very conservative Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper recognizes what is happening. Voting time a partisan battle | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com (http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201208052259/NEWS0106/308050053)


Just curious...doesnt mean I think your charges and accusations are untrue, but in reading the report, it seems that "early voting" is referring to absentee ballots AND in person voters coming in early in the day and not just "in person" voting....is that correct ?

[Guest]

Yes, the report is very clear that by early voting they mean absentee voting and in person early voting. About 82% of early votes are absentee and 18% early voting in 2010. A very similar percent is reported for 2008 from Cleveland (the only county I can find a breakdown for 2008)
United States Elections Project (http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html)
Slightly over 5.7 million people voted in Ohio in 2008. 29.7% voted early which is 1.7 early votes. Of that about 18% are walk in early votes...or about 306,000. As you can see from the tables on pages 18 to 20 the early voters were Democratic voters by 5 to 10% higher than those voting on election day. That is a huge difference.

I do appreciate the fact that you took the time to read the link and consider its contents. We need more of that around here

[Guest]

Yes, the report is very clear that by early voting they mean absentee voting and in person early voting. About 82% of early votes are absentee and 18% early voting in 2010. A very similar percent is reported for 2008 from Cleveland (the only county I can find a breakdown for 2008)
United States Elections Project (http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html)
Slightly over 5.7 million people voted in Ohio in 2008. 29.7% voted early which is 1.7 early votes. Of that about 18% are walk in early votes...or about 306,000. As you can see from the tables on pages 18 to 20 the early voters were Democratic voters by 5 to 10% higher than those voting on election day. That is a huge difference.

I do appreciate the fact that you took the time to read the link and consider its contents. We need more of that around here

Yeah you are right about that. Most do not even read...mind is made up even if not true :)

I really need to get more background but thanks.....this total subject of voting is something that everyone needs to get their arms around somehow. We do need tighter control but I would never want to suppress a vote, knowing that no matter what you do, someone will claim that.

My fear is...and a real one...I posted a thread recently on the illegal immigrants that have been released and the crime that they have committed. I KNOW they are making illegal inroads in lots of areas (see tax fraud in the billions for example) and we need to be wary !

But thanks....I will post something once I have some idea of what the hey I am reading !! Good subject

[Guest]

They're probably out of work anyway, won't much matter.