McCain wins one in Ohio

[Hope And Change]

October 02, 2008
Categories: John McCain

McCain wins one in Ohio

Ohio's top court rules that the Democratic secretary of state there can't throw out absentee ballots distributed by the McCain campaign that were going to be discarded on a technicality.

This election is a lesson, or perhaps a reminder, of how much partisan control of that office matters.


By Ben Smith 04:55 PM


more...

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/McCain_wins_one_in_Ohio.html#comments

[Tallison]

1. I wonder on what technicality?

Since they all tend to be bullshit. Voting should be the most accessible and straightforward exercise in a democracy.

[BzaDem]

3. The technicality was pretty stupid.

Basically, McCain's camp printed the absentee ballot applications with a checkbox that said "I certify that I am qualified to vote" or something, and some people didn't check the box (but otherwise filled out the application correctly). If McCain didn't print the applications with that checkbox, the voters wouldn't have had a problem.

I agree with the court here.

[democraticinsurgent]

2. More on this story

...and a better story indeed, from the Columbus Dispatch
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The Ohio Supreme Court this afternoon ordered Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to direct county elections boards to accept disputed applications for absentee ballots that don't have a box on the form checked.

Brunner, a Democrat, had ruled that the applications from Republican John McCain's campaign should be rejected because the box must be checked to affirm that the applicant is a qualified elector as required by law.

But two Hamilton County residents sued, arguing that there is a statement on the form declaring the applicant is qualified, and that the applicant's signature is enough to satisfy the law even if the box isn't checked.

The court agreed, ruling that there is no requirement in the law that a box be checked or that the applicant's signature be close to an affirmation statement.

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/02/supco_forms.html?sid=101
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I would actually support this decision. I remember when the ballots were first mailed and Dems were crying foul because a lot of them were mailed to Dems; the checkbox was thought to be an intentionally confusing element which would cause Democratic ballots to be thrown out. So I'm not sure whether this is a big win for McCain but I think it is a win for democracy.

[Bonn1997]

4. Brunner (D) out to be ashamed of herself

She's stooping to Republican levels here

[Labors of Hercules]

5. She wasn't happy having to make the decision she did,

but felt she was legally obligated. She actually spoke out in favor of the court's decision. Maybe you should Get all the facts before you go snarking somebody for upholding the law.

[Bonn1997]

6. What do you expect her to say? That she's happy to exclude voters?

I care about what she did, not how she says she feels about what she did.