Sanders files suit against Ohio secretary of state in push to allow 17-year-olds to vote

[madfloridian]

Sanders files suit against Ohio secretary of state in push to allow 17-year-olds to vote

Bernie Sanders said Tuesday his campaign has filed suit against Ohio's secretary of state, seeking to allow 17-year-olds to vote in the presidential primary there.

Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver argued Tuesday that state law previously allowed 17-year-olds to vote in presidential primaries, accusing Jon Husted, a Republican, of trying to "disenfranchise" voters.

"The secretary of state has decided to disenfranchise people who are 17 but will be 18 by the day of the general election. Those people have been allowed to vote under the law of Ohio, but the secretary of state of the state of Ohio has decided to disenfranchise those people to forbid them from voting in the primary that is coming up on March 15," Weaver told reporters in Detroit.

The Columbus Dispatch reported Saturday that a state Democratic lawmaker raised the issue last week, claiming that Husted changed the interpretation of the law.

But Husted said Tuesday that there has been no change -- 17-year-olds who turn 18 by Election Day in November have always been allowed to vote in direct nominations (such as Ohio's Senate primary) but barred from voting for delegates in the presidential primary.

Not sure I understand why they let them vote for some things but not for others if they are going to be 18 by November.

[AtomicKitten]

1. Good for him.

Thanks for posting this. k/r

[liberal_at_heart]

2. Go Bernie! The people's champion.

[madfloridian]

15. Yes, he is...for the people.

[thereismore]

3. He's a fighter. Something Kerry seemed to lack when it came to Ohio. nt

[madfloridian]

12. I believe that the party discouraged both Kerry and Gore from fighting back too hard.

I know they left Gore hanging here in Florida. It was an awful time.

[thereismore]

29. the Party is spineless and needs a revolution.

Or at least a perestroika.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, madfloridian.

[PyaarRevolution]

5. Go Bernie!!!

This is voter disenfranchisement but why shouldn't I be surprised given that it's a Republican led state with John Kasich at the helm.

I think Hillary should join the lawsuit. I mean aren't Democrats suppose to allow access rather then block it. They're going to be able to vote in the general so why should the nominee be picked for them?

[NEOhiodemocrat]

6. As an Ohio poll worker I was astonished to hear this on NPR this morning.

I had my poll training on March 2nd and this was not in effect then! We were told that the 17 year olds could not vote on the issues (as they go into effect immediately) so we should cross out the issues with a large X and give them the ballot to vote on people running in the primary. In past years the 17 year olds could also vote in the primary for those running to get into the November election.
So another new way the Husted found to disenfranchise voters.
NPR also noted that our delegate distribution is no longer proportional. The Republican house and senate changes that to help Kasich. Too bad it looks like it is going to help Trump instead!

[madfloridian]

13. So in past years they could vote for the presidential nominee?

[NEOhiodemocrat]

17. Yes they could! And I have been working the polls for a loooong time :)

[madfloridian]

18. Thanks for your reply on this.

I admit I was not sure.

[pampango]

37. I'm a poll worker in SW OH. Had training 2 weeks ago. No change in 17 yr olds voting in presidential

primary. Didn't hear the story on NPR so can't comment on it.

[dragonlady]

7. If Nina Turner had won that office

there would be no need for this lawsuit.

[madfloridian]

8. I have been so impressed with her in the interviews I've seen.

[itsrobert]

9. Well, the President serves a 4 year term

Maybe they should allow everyone to vote that will be 18 at the end of the 4 year term?

[madfloridian]

10. That is just silly and misses the whole point, which I suspect is on purpose.

[AlbertCat]

30. If this is what passes for understanding laws from Hillary supporters...

...... well! I mean, are you serious????

[thesquanderer]

11. re:"Not sure I understand why they let them vote for some things but not for others"

My understanding of the argument is that, technically, they would not be voting for Hillary or Bernie to be on the ballot in November (which would be permitted), rather they are voting for delegates who will immediately be chosen to represent that vote in November, and that immediate vote of an official is not permitted of someone who is not yet 18.

[Gwhittey]

14. Dam Rebulicans

Always trying to suppress the vote. Wonder why DNC and HRC people are not doing this? Odd that only one candidate would and not DNC. Probably Bernie going behind DNC back to get more press coverage, as if he does not have enough. I mean come on Washington Post had more than 16 articles about him yesterday.

[LisaM]

16. I don't think they should remove this right if it was there before.

That said, I don't recall this being the rule in Michigan when I was a teen. It would not have applied to me, since my birthday is in December, but I don't recall ever hearing about 17-year olds voting in primaries.

Anyone have background on this?

[NEOhiodemocrat]

20. Here in Ohio 17 year olds do vote in the primary if they will be 18 by election day

Or at least they have for years. And since we already had our training when are they planning on telling us about this? Crazy to pull this a week or so before election in my mind. Always new ways to disenfranchise voters.

[madfloridian]

21. Sounds like the campaign found out quickly then.

You are right, they should have told you up front.

[LisaM]

22. I agree! It's just something new to me this election cycle

I don't remember hearing about it before, but that's probably because it's been around for a long time and it's just an accepted right until someone tries to remove it.

[Skwmom]

19. Time for a donation to help fund the legal bill. n/t

[madfloridian]

42. Good idea. Maybe a little extra for Michigan win against all odds?

[Skwmom]

43. He WON!

[snagglepuss]

23. knr

[NurseJackie]

24. Agreed!

[amborin]

25. good to hear!

[PuppyBismark]

26. 17 year olds have been allowed to vote in primary

I have been an election judge in Ohio for 8 years and we let them vote in the primary the last two presidential elections. Perhaps the SOS works for Clinton.

[pat_k]

27. Great! (nt)

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. This is precedent

That is what the suit is about

[Enthusiast]

31. Jon Husted is all about suppressing the vote.

[Snotcicles]

32. He makes Blackwell seem like an Angle. nt

[Dont call me Shirley]

33. Awesome!

[FloriTexan]

34. Kick!

[madfloridian]

35. Thanks.

[Jefferson23]

36. Thanks for posting, I had no idea. n/t

[houston16revival]

38. Yeah! That's what we need, head to head against these guys

Where has the great DNC been on these issues?

[Adrahil]

39. I support this. Go get 'em Bernie. NT

[valerief]

40. Bernie fights voter suppression! nt

[madfloridian]

41. Glad he's doing it.

Should have been done years ago.

[madfloridian]

44. Here are more details. It's like he said, he said. Confusing.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/08/politics/bernie-sanders-lawsuit-ohio-teenage-voters/

The lawsuit claims Husted changed the rules in an election manual published in December and says the Sanders campaign is seeking an injunction that would allow 17-year-olds to cast ballots next week. The Columbus Dispatch reported Saturday that a state Democratic lawmaker raised the issue last week.

The suit cites a 2009 pamphlet that the Sanders campaign says was put out by then-Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat. The pamphlet says 17-year-olds were barred from voting on referendums and elections of state party members but makes no mention of them being barred from voting in the presidential primaries.

Weaver told reporters that the campaign expects the matter to be resolved before Ohio holds its primary next Tuesday.

But Husted said Tuesday that there has been no change -- 17-year-olds who turn 18 by Election Day in November have always been allowed to vote in direct nominations (such as Ohio's Senate primary) but barred from voting for delegates in the presidential primary.