Black Box Voting

Ohio voters will get to both register and vote in person during a one week period through October 6 thanks to a ruling by the State Supreme Court AND a Federal Judge. This is a huge improvement in access for voters who 4 years ago faced waiting in line for as long as 13 hours!  The State Supreme Court voted 4-3 that SOS Brunner was right and the early voting and registration was constitutional. This is a bi partisan vote, given that the 6 of the state justices were republican, and 1 was Democrat. U.S. District Judge George  ruled that party poll observers must be allowed during early voting in the state's 88 counties. Brunner appealed that decision to a federal court in Cincinnati.

State, federal courts uphold early voting in Ohio By STEPHEN MAJORS Monday, September 29, 2008

State and federal courts cleared the way Monday for a weeklong period in which new voters can register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day in Ohio, a defeat for Republicans who challenged it.

The early voting window, which begins Tuesday, became a partisan battle in this swing state where President Bush narrowly clinched re-election in 2004.

The court decisions were a victory for Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat who was criticized by Republicans for telling county election boards to allow same-day registration and voting through Oct. 6.

"This ruling is a victory for all Ohio voters," Brunner said in a statement. "It should send a message to the forces of confusion and chaos that our top goal must be protecting Ohioans' voting rights."

The Ohio Republican Party didn't say if it would appeal....