Court: Ohio Can’t Throw Out Ballots Because Of Poll Worker Error

[Tx4obama]

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursady that Ohio can't toss out ballots that were cast in the wrong precinct but in the right location because of poll worker error. Election lawyer Rick Hasen called it the "most important decision in this election cycle."

"The State would disqualify thousands of rightplace/wrong-precinct provisional ballots, where the voter’s only mistake was relying on the poll-worker’s precinct guidance," the court ruled. "That path unjustifiably burdens these voters’ fundamental right to vote."

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/court-ohio-cant-throw-out-ballots-because-of

What does that mean? How can something be 'the right place' and 'the wrong precinct' at the same time?

A bit confused here

[MSMITH33156]

1. Some polling locations

have more than 1 precinct in them. The poll worker is supposed to match up the voter with the correct precinct. I guess they screwed that up here.

[Tx4obama]

2. Thanks :) n/t

[elleng]

3. Here too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014263576

[Tx4obama]

8. Thanks for the link, good stuff there :) n/t

[hrmjustin]

4. Is that just Oh or all the states?

[MSMITH33156]

6. It was probably just 1 polling location

It was something like:

Location has Precinct 1 and Precinct 2.

The poll worker didn't know what he/she was doing, and gave everyone that voted there the ballot for Precinct 1. So, they voted on the wrong ballot, but it would still be applicable for most of the races, although this could still impact some local stuff.

But the nature of the problem makes it look like it was probably an isolated poll worker error.

[Gothmog]

5. Ballots only count if cast in right polling location

In Texas and most states, the poll workers have a duty to tell a voter if that voter is in the wrong polling place and where to go to vote. In Texas, the computer used for checking a person in will not let you check the person and will tell where they need to go and you can even print the address of the correct polling place. If a poll worker sends a voter to the wrong place and that voter casts a provisional ballot, then that ballot should count if the voter protests and can swear that the reason he was at the wrong voting place was poll worker error

The GOP tried to eliminate the obligation of poll workers to tell voters where their correct polling location is and the courts struck down that restriction and provided that any provisional ballots cast due to poll worker error must be counted.

[brewens]

7. Occasionally I like to exercise my psychic powers. This precinct. I'm

seeing........It's becoming more clear........It was a largely Democratic precinct wasn't it?

[theKed]

9. OH MY GOD

How did you know that?

Quick...pick lottery numbers, too!

[TexasCPA]

10. Bastards

They will do anything to hold power. Republicans are pro-dictatorship which is anti-American.

[yellowcanine]

11. Messing with polling locations/precincts is an old minority voter suppression tactic of the Jim Crow

era. Right up there with "literacy tests" and poll taxes. Glad to see the courts are having none of it.