Supreme Court Halts Republican Move to Disenfranchise Ohio Voters

[trueblue2007]

Supreme Court Halts Republican Move to Disenfranchise Ohio Voters
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/10/17/supreme-court-halts-republican-move-to-disenfranchise-ohio-voters

Supreme Court Halts Republican Move to Disenfranchise Ohio Voters

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/10/17/supreme-court-halts-republican-move-to-disenfranchise-ohio-voters

by James Parks, Oct 17, 2008


The U.S. Supreme Court today vacated a temporary restraining order sought by Ohio Republicans that would have required Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to update the state’s voter registration database before Election Day.

The decision means that thousands of voters who might support worker-friendly candidates will be allowed to vote without being challenged on Election Day. Had the politically motivated lawsuit, which included the restraining order, been allowed to proceed, some 200,000 eligible Ohio voters could have been forced to use provisional ballots.

The Ohio Republican Party filed suit against Brunner, claiming she should be required under federal law to match new voter registrations against certain state databases. After a federal circuit court ruled in the Republicans’ favor, Brunner appealed to the high court saying simple errors such as data entry mistakes and unnecessary software codes could lead to erroneous mismatches and deny eligible voters the right to vote.

<snip>

The suit was timed just as Ohioans began absentee voting in 2008. Numerous press reports have revealed Republican Party plans nationwide to thwart the impact of a record number of new voter registrations, mainly among students, young people, poor people and people of color, groups that usually vote for Democrats.


<snip>

The AFL-CIO, in conjunction with the Ohio AFL-CIO and SEIU, filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, supporting Brunner’s position. The AFL-CIO argues in the brief that the Ohio Republican Party has no right to file the lawsuit under federal law. Only the U.S. Attorney General can bring such a suit, but the Republicans convinced a politically-appointed judge that they could proceed. Allowing the lawsuit to proceed, the brief says, would allow the Republican Party and the judge to micro-manage the election and impinge on the authority of the state Secretary of State to run elections.

In her appeal, Brunner pointed out that Ohio’s statewide voter registration database was created under the previous Secretary of State, Republican Kenneth Blackwell, and has been used in its current form in every election since the 2006 general election, including the 2008 March primary.

[The Wielding Truth]

1. Yes!

[Botany]

2. I loves me some Brunner

I know her a little bit.

Part of an e-mail exchange w/ her yesterday


Sec. of State J. Brunner,

This is your time and I know you will pass this test w/ flying colors
and that those new voters will get to vote and that their votes will be
counted.


all the best,
tom


Thanks, Tom. We'll get through all of this. Thanks for your kindness and support.
Jennifer

[speedoo]

3. BLAM!!

Fuck you, Ohio Rethugs.

[trueblue2007]

5. I love this part of the article

This paragraph....it just STICKS IT to the Republican's. It's ALL Blackwell's fault!!!



In her appeal, Brunner pointed out that Ohio’s statewide voter registration database was created under the previous Secretary of State, Republican Kenneth Blackwell, and has been used in its current form in every election since the 2006 general election, including the 2008 March primary.

[ddeclue]

4. Excellent! - I am downloading the OH, and NC databases

to run checks to debunk the RW claims about ACORN & Mickey Mouse, etc. in the voter files.

I already have the FL file and will get an update this weekend to do the same for it.

PA's and NV's files are available for $20 each but I don't know if I have time to get to them before the election and I'm kind of strapped for cash right now.

If someone there wants to get them and send them to me somehow I could try to debunk this for them also.

I'm trying to see what other states make these files available. Some do not or charge large
amounts for them.

P.S. as someone who has worked extensively with FL's file, Bruner is absolutely right about small typos causing people to be disenfranchised! THANK you SCOTUS! This is NOT 2000 apparently...

Thanks,

D.D.
Orlando, FL

[HeraldSquare212]

6. SCOTUS giveth, SCOTUS taketh away. But I'd prefer that there was a private right of action, I think.

[trueblue2007]

7. It's gonna be HARDER for the Repukes to steal Ohio

he decision means that thousands of voters who might support worker-friendly candidates will be allowed to vote without being challenged on Election Day. Had the politically motivated lawsuit, which included the restraining order, been allowed to proceed, some 200,000 eligible Ohio voters could have been forced to use provisional ballots.