Justice Dept. Weighs in on Ohio Ballots

[maddezmom]

CINCINNATI - Ohio Democrats did not have the right to challenge a state requirement that voters show up at their assigned polling place to cast a ballot, lawyers for the Justice Department (news - web sites) told a federal appeals court Friday.


AP Photo



Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell is within his authority under federal law to require that a voter appear at the correct polling place, Department of Justice (news - web sites) lawyers contended in written arguments filed with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites).


The federal government may sue in order to enforce its provisions, but federal law does not grant private parties that right, the Justice Department contended in its brief in support of Blackwell. The Justice Department is not a party in the lawsuit, which Ohio Democrats filed against Blackwell, a Republican.


Blackwell says the state has the authority to administer elections. The Justice Department lawyers backed that position, arguing that the law does not conflict with, or pre-empt, Ohio's precinct-based system of voting.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=3&u=/ap/20041023/ap_on_el_pr/ohio_ballots

[Zorra]

1. No doubt the work of Herr Ashcroft, despiser of freedom and democracy.

Trying to make voting as difficult for citizens as he possibly can.

[THX1138]

2. Ohio DU'ers

Is this getting any play on the local news?

[farmbo]

5. Just front page above the fold...(Thursday's Columbus Dispatch)

eom

[still_one]

3. The good news is we have time to make sure people get to the right place

[Demoiselle]

4. Distribute info door to door if necessary...

Our local paper just printed a two page list of precinct polling places...but if you don't know your precinct number, it's not much help. I'm a local Dem committeeperson and every Dem and indie voter in our division will get a letter from me telling them, among other things, where they vote. Philly election people are mailing postcards with the info too. This kind of door to door distribution would be a great service y'all could do for your local dem committee people.