Thickness Of Voter Card Paper Questioned (Blackwell lies)

[spotbird]

http://www.nbc4i.com/politics/3767297/detail.html

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A reminder that state voter registration cards must be printed only on heavy cardboard-like paper has created confusion for some county election boards.

*skip*

But election board directors in Hamilton County in Cincinnati and Summit County in Akron say Blackwell's reminder has not caused any problems.

Blackwell's office says the order is meant to prevent lightweight cards from being shredded by postal equipment. Blackwell says boards should accept all forms and register voters, then send voters the proper card -- printed by the county board -- to fill out for the permanent record.

*more*

Now read the actual order from Blackwell and decide if it was a reminder:

II. VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS - PAPERWEIGHT

We have received numerous questions concerning the paperweight of the Ohio voter registration form. The form prescribed by the Secretary of State must be printed on white, uncoated paper of not less than 80 lb. text weight. Any Ohio form not printed on this minimum paperweight is considered to be an application for a registration form. Your board should mail the appropriate form to the person listed on the application.

However, this office cannot dictate the paperweight of the federally prescribed voter registrations forms: the on-line Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and the "national" form prescribed by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Both of those forms may be printed on regular weight (e.g. 20 lb) white paper. )

Now notice that in Cincinnati the "reminder" supposedly hasn't caused problems. When did the requirement become a reminder? Who had no problems? Were the registrations processed or did these counties comply with Blackwell's order? How many of the people who were sent the new applications returned them, and what happened if they didn't?

For some reason the state Democratic Party believes the crap from Blackwell's office. Why would they trust Blackwell? All they have to do is read the original story in the Daily News and Blackwell's own order together to get to the truth.

[MallRat]

1. OK. If true, then 1000's of registration forms should've been mailed.

I mean, if people were simply filling out applications to get the registration forms, then they should have received the official registration forms in the mail, right?

Or did the registrars violate state law and not send the official forms to those who requested them?

-MR

[spotbird]

3. The point is that the applications were fine in the first place.

There was no reason to deny any of them. Why make people register twice?

[MallRat]

13. My point: Blackwell's order makes no sense, because no one followed it.

If a non-80 lb. bond registration is to be treated like an APPLICATION for a registration form, then it's a little bit late to be telling this to the town and county registrars, whoever they may be. You can't penalize the voter if the county messed up.

I'm just splitting hairs here. I know this is voter disenfranchisement, plain and simple. I'm just going the next step and saying that Blackwell's argument is also completely baseless.

-MR

[LisaL]

2. It says counties are ignoring the Blackwell's order-

well, I sure hope so. Apparently, it's not even a law, according to this article, but sounds like Blackwell's personal preference? And his "reminder" didn't say voters should still be registered but send a second card to fill out. Blackwell's reminder said to consider form on less than 80 lb paper just an application for a registration form. Then, they are supposed to send the voters registration forms on 80 lb paper. What happens if the voter can not send the 80 lb registration form back before the deadline? What happens if the voter doesn't send the form back at all? Are they registered? It's all very confusing and fishy. I sure as hell don't think democrats should just leave it alone. If people are not being registered because of it democrats should sue Blackwell ASAP. And people should keep calling election boards to make sure they are actually registered!

[spotbird]

4. No it does not say that the counties are ignoring the order.

It says just the opposite.

It says that the order not a problem for the counties who complied. But it doesn't explain what, "not a problem means."

Why will they ever make anyone register a second time? How many new applications have they sent out?

[LisaL]

5. Well, here is the quote from the article:

"Counties Ignoring Order For Registration On Heavy Paper".
So, what does it say?:eyes:
Of course, later on, it said a different thing.
So, more confusion all the way around.

[spotbird]

9. Sorry, the headline is misleading.

but it says exactly that.

They couldn't be trying to confuse the issue, could they?

[jimshoes]

6. I should think an injunction is in order

to accept all registration pending a judicial review. Blackwell isn't a lawyer and it should not be left up to him to interperet what sound like printer's requirements. Also there was no fair warning ever publicly posted anywhere to my knowledge that new registrations are required to be printed on #80 stock. Furthermore ther is no diferrentiation made as to whether Blackwell means #80 text weight or #80 cover weight. The difference between the two is considerable as the name implies, text vs. cover weight.

[Stew225]

7. someone from my county dem headquarters emailed

me about this and asked me to complain, which I did. I threatened Blackwell to use my 30+ media and marketing experience to destroy him if he denigrates voter rights.

God, I'm so pissed that I'm seeing red.

[spotbird]

8. There absolutely has to be a court action.

This article is a deliberate effort to obscure what they have done. There is no way to make them honest in the media, the only hope is the courts.

[LisaL]

10. Exactly.

This article is very misleading and confusing.
It first says counties are not going to do it, but then it says counties do not see it as a problem. It also says that Blackwell ordered the counties to register voters but send them a second card which is clearly a lie. Democrats should take Blackwell to court. It doesn't look like he has any leg to stand on, apparently, according to this article, there is no law whatsoever that says registration forms have to be on 80 lb paper, it is Blackwell's requirement. Democrats should sue before it's too late!
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[spotbird]

11. What makes me crazy is that the state party believes Blackwell!

They are saying that there's no problem, so like typical Democrats the state says, "didn't you hear, there's no problem."

[Sporadicus]

12. What About an Organized Demonstration?

The national media haven't been paying much attention to this story. It seems the best way to draw attention to Blackwell's blatant disregard for the law would be to organize rallies and demonstrations. Travesties like those perpetrated by Blackwell don't hold up well under the eye of the camera.

[cmd]

14. Here's the statement from the state dems

I just got this in response to an e-mail to them.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



September 28, 2004





Statement from Ohio Democratic Party Chair Dennis L. White

Regarding 80-Pound Voter Registration Card Directive



All or part of the following statement can be attributed to Dennis L. White, Ohio Democratic Party Chair.



“I am shocked and appalled by the latest directive from Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell that calls for the disregarding any voter registration form not filed on 80-pound weight paper. This is an antiquated rule and an unnecessary barrier to voter registration efforts going on in Ohio.



“If any Ohio citizens has information indicating a voter registration application has been denied because of inadequate paper weight, please notify the Ohio Democratic Party immediately. We stand ready to take whatever action is necessary to ensure that voter registration applications correctly completed by eligible voters are accepted.



“Please call Dan Trevas at [phone] or email [e-mail] if your applications have been denied.



-30-

[Timefortruth]

15. Why is that useful?

There won't be anyone who isn't registered until after the deadline, everyone has been sent a new application.

[cmd]

17. It isn't that useful after the election

That's why I e-mailed back suggesting that a law suit be filed. I'm not sure how big the problem is going to be. I think each of us should contact our local board of elections and speak to the democratic member. We need to determine how many voters this will affect and then raise a huge stink in our local papers. Voter have to be made aware of the problem. We only have until Oct. 4 to do something that will affect this election.

[LisaL]

18. Where exactly did you find that info?

As far as I can tell, they got a lot of forms they are processing, so, I sincerely doubt "everyone has been sent a new application".
:eyes:

[Zorra]

16. Now that is short and sweet.

Looks like Blackwell is going to be in deep doo-doo soon.

This may really hurt Bu$h if it gets real media coverage.

Even more proof of the nationwide republican effort at committing widespread voter fraud, and that Bu$h is obviously trying to steal another election.

[LiberalFighter]

19. § 3503.13. Registration forms, records.

(A) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, registration forms shall consist of original and duplicate cards or loose-leaf pages as prescribed by the secretary of state. When such registration forms have been filled out and filed in the office of the board of elections, the original forms shall be filed together in one file and the duplicate forms shall be filed together in another file. Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, the original forms shall be filed by precincts and shall constitute the precinct register for use in polling places on election day. The duplicate forms shall be filed alphabetically and shall constitute the permanent office record of the board. It shall not be removed from the office of the board except upon the order of a court.

(B) Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law, the registration records shall be open to public inspection at all times when the office of the board is open for business, under such regulations as the board adopts, provided that no person shall be permitted to inspect such records except in the presence of an employee of the board.

(C) The board of elections of a county that adopts or has adopted electronic data processing for the registration of qualified electors of the county may use a single registration form complying with the requirements of division (A) of this section. The information contained on the form may be duplicated on punch cards, magnetic tape, discs, diskettes, or such other media as are compatible with the data processing system adopted by the board and may constitute the permanent office record in lieu of the duplicate registration card.

(D) Instead of using the original registration forms as the precinct register in the polling places on election day as provided in division (A) of this section, a board of elections that has adopted electronic data processing may use a legible digitized signature list of voter signatures, copied from the signatures on the registration forms in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary of state, provided that the board continues to record and maintain at the board office the information obtained from the form prescribed under section 3503.14 of the Revised Code, and provided that the precinct election officials have computer printouts at the polls containing any necessary information specified by the secretary of state that would otherwise be available to them on the registration forms.

[LiberalFighter]

20. § 3503.08. Registration supplies; rules.

The board of elections shall provide such printed forms, blanks, supplies, and equipment and prescribe such reasonable rules as are necessary to carry out sections 3503.06 to 3503.32 Å of the Revised Code.

[DeepModem Mom]

21. kick