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Voting dogfight is not needed
The Newark Advocate
August 15, 2008
Ohio appears to be heading toward another election controversy. We hope both major parties understand the last thing the state and the country need is one more political dogfight that does a disservice to the election process.
Absentee voting in Ohio starts Sept. 30, and there is a five-day period after that leading to the deadline for voter registration. The Ohio Republican Party is crying foul to Democrat Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner for her directive that county election offices must provide for almost immediate issuance of an absentee ballot to a voter who registers within that window.
GOP concerns are not without substance. For one, they say allowing this to happen violates state law that requires a 30-day wait from the time of registration to being allowed to cast a vote.
There is also the fear there might not be enough time to verify a voter registration, opening the door to fraud.
Democrats say this gap was created by the Republican-controlled legislature when it made changes to the absentee voting law. And it isn't the first year for it -- it's been in effect since the primaries of 2006.
Of course, the particulars of the law are not all that concern the parties. Republicans see it as an advantage for Democrats because of Obama's apparent popularity among younger -- read college -- voters. This "register here, vote here" opportunity could have a big impact on the number of votes cast.
Democrats see Republican charges as an attempt to undermine the voting process.
Brunner appears to have taken a reasonable approach that addresses the letter and spirit of the law. Her directive includes an emphasis that election boards "must register a person as an elector before issuing an absentee ballot to that person," and allows election boards to delay registration and issuance of an absentee ballot "if a board is not satisfied as to validity of the application and the applicant's qualifications."
Making voting more accessible, assuming voters are properly registered and the integrity of votes cast is assured, is worthwhile. And if Republicans truly believe this matter works against that, or if Democrats are sure this works for it, they should take appropriate steps.
Regardless of any truth they may contain, accusations of this or claims of that wrapped up in hyperbolic rhetoric weary voters and needlessly tarnish one of our most cherished rights as Americans.
