FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                         JUNE 13, 2014

Judge Meddles in Ohio's Election Laws Again by Forcing Polls Open the 3 Days Before Election, Setting the Stage for Continued Chaos

This week, U.S. District Judge Peter Economus again ordered Ohio to add Saturday, Sunday, and Monday voting before Tuesday Election Day, over the objections of the Secretary of State, boards of elections officials, and poll workers who remind the judge that there is no time to rectify the poll books before opening the polls on Election Day.  This practice led to confusion state-wide in the 2012 Presidential Election and will continue to be a problem if it continues.  

A citizens' audit that was conducted in the aftermath of the 2012 Presidential Election collected detailed reports from county boards of elections and from election poll workers that tell a story of the problems that occurred with Saturday, Sunday, and Monday voting before Election Day. 

OCA President Chris Long stated, "Poll workers reported that there were wrong lists of names of early voters which were submitted to them on Election morning, on which they had to physically mark an "A" next to those who presumably voted early, only later to learn that the board had made a mistake and submitted the wrong list of names to the poll workers. Those on the list were told that they had already voted early and would have to vote provisionally.  These voters did not vote early, and yet were told that they did. This happened across the State of Ohio and was in direct response to the forcing of these 3 additional days of voting before the Election.  The judge just doesn't get it. He is forcing an issue that just isn't working and will lead to further chaos at polling locations and a growing frustration in voters.  Ohio needs to appeal the judge's decision and bring some common sense back to the table. Currently, Ohio has 29 days of open voting. That is plenty of time for anyone to get to the polls and cast their ballot."

The citizens' initiative will continue to press for common sense policy changes in Ohio's election laws, including voter photo ID requirement. 

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Contact Chris Long 330-887-1922