Blackwell gets registrants' anger ,denies trying to disenfranchise voters

[Algorem]

Blackwell gets brunt of registrants' anger
He denies trying to disenfranchise voters

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1149582726265130.xml&coll=2

Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Ted Wendling
Plain Dealer Bureau

Columbus- Democrats and representatives of voter-registration groups accused Secretary of State Ken Blackwell on Monday of trying to rig this November's election by publishing draconian new rules governing the activities of people who register voters.

Testifying at a hearing chaired by Judy Grady, Blackwell's director of elections, lawyers for ACORN, Common Cause, the Ohio Democratic Party and other groups said training documents drafted by Blackwell's office are so vague that they subject registrars to felony penalties for even inadvertent violations...

Samuel Gresham, an attorney for Common Cause, charged that the rules are "part of a consistent pattern, intentionally so," by Blackwell to disenfranchise black, low-income and Democratic voters.

Blackwell's actions, Gresham and others said, are intended to suppress Democratic voter turnout in what is shaping up as a closely contested governor's race between Blackwell, a Republican, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland...


Article published Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Critics rip rules for paid staffers signing up voters
Ohio's regulations too restrictive, scare away volunteers, they say

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060606/NEWS09/606060378/-1/NEWS

By JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU


COLUMBUS - Emergency rules regulating people who are paid to register voters are too restrictive and have scared off volunteers afraid of crossing a vaguely drawn line, critics charged yesterday.

The rules, written by Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell's office, took effect with Gov. Bob Taft's signature on May 1. Mr. Blackwell's office held a hearing yesterday as it prepares to submit permanent rule language to a legislative committee for review.

The rules were triggered by a state law passed earlier this year that, in part, reacted to stories of fraud during the 2004 presidential election, including a Defiance County case in which a man who tried to register the likes of Mary Poppins and Dick Tracy was paid in crack cocaine.

An online training manual that flows from the rules requires paid registrars to "directly" submit registrations to county election boards or the secretary of state rather than any number of other public drop-off locations available to volunteer registrars...

[HughBeaumont]

1. How is BootBlackwell still allowed to be part

of the vote-counting process in Ohio? I swear to God, this guy cannot be our next Governor. He's going to make Taft look like Adlai Stevenson in comparison. Strickland needs at least a 16-point length if we're to have any hope against this bible-thumping dolt.

[aintitfunny]

2. Closely Contested Race?

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/May%202006/Ohio%20Governor%20May.htm

According to the recent polling I found above, not so close..and perhaps Blackwell will get what he deserves. We can only hope that the margin continues to grow.

[rodeodance]

7. losing would be too good for him!

[Ohio Joe]

10. Agreed

A speedy trial and a nice prison sentence is what he deserves.

[struggle4progress]

12. So Blackwell has a personal stake in disenfranchising Dems

[AndyTiedye]

13. They Are Calling it a "Closely-Contested Race" Because They Know…

…Blackwell is going to steal it, and they don't want to be
embarassed by saying that Strickland is going to win.

[Vidar]

3. Glad the fight is being reported this time, at least.

[Evergreen Emerald]

4. Isn't there a conflict of interest ?

Since he is a candidate for office, he should be shielded from any decisions regarding voting rights. He has a vested interest in using his power to assure his own victory. If nothing else, there is the appearance of impropriety. Why is he allowed to make these decisions?

[warrens]

5. Same thing Bush is doing in Florida

It has to be a national Repuke conspiracy.

[stepnw1f]

8. And It Needs to Be Publicized As Much as Possible

to pre-empt their plans.

[rodeodance]

6. What is it with Repugs-slapping the fear of felonies on so many-including

immigrants, helpers (docs, social workers, etc etc).

.....Testifying at a hearing chaired by Judy Grady, Blackwell's director of elections, lawyers for ACORN, Common Cause, the Ohio Democratic Party and other groups said training documents drafted by Blackwell's office are so vague that they subject registrars to felony penalties for even inadvertent violations...

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Hey, if they can convict more people of felonies, there will even less

Deomocratic voters to worry about!

[kainah]

11. Kevin DeWine?

State Rep. Kevin DeWine, the legislator who sponsored the election-reform law, said he believes Blackwell's office faithfully drafted the rules to comply with the bill.

I'm assuming that this state rep must be some relation to Mike DeWine. Does anyone know for sure? I'm getting so sick of the way repugs appear to think that political office is some sort of family dynasty....

And, of course, as for Blackwell, is anyone surprised? At least someone is trying to hold him accountable and at least a newspaper is writing about it. At least, because, under the bushies, at least is about all you can hope for.

[sweetheart]

14. hey blackwell

justice is like the yakuza... its coming for you.

[Turn CO Blue]

15. I read yours as: "Blackwell justice is like kudzu - it's coming for you"

:rofl:

[Fla4kerry]

16. When is his

term up for Sec of State?
I can not believe he can hold this position and still be a candidate for Gov. When he gets to count the votes..Please Dem's be in EVERY Polling place around the State as a poll watcher/worker including counting the votes afterward this November.
What in the world is going on in Ohio? Between my State of Fla and Ohio it is beyond belief!!!

[sweetheart]

18. ha!

He knows his days are numbered for his crime of subverting the constitution.

The courts won't catch him, but the courts are a waste... the people
will finish the job where corrupt courts pretend justice.

[Eurobabe]

17. BlacKKKwell signs all over Warren Co.

So glad I left that place. I feel very sorry for any Dem or Indy who is slogging it out there.