OH Cong in play: Deborah Pryce v. Kilroy. Rally at OSU today

[Pokey Anderson]

Congress for Ohio - incumbent Deborah Pryce (R) v. Mary Jo Kilroy (D), still in play.

3,600-vote margin with over 30,000 ballots left to be counted.


THE RALLY TODAY at 4 pm

Evan Davis, reporter in Columbus Ohio, passed this along:

*EVERY VOTE COUNTS! COUNT EVERY VOTE!*

*RALLY FOR VOTER RIGHTS *

* 4:00 pm - Thursday, November 9th*

*Stecker Lounge - Ohio Union, 3rd Floor - OSU Campus *

With only a 3,600-vote margin and over 30,000 ballots left to be
counted, the Ohio 15th Congressional Race is still too close to call!

It is estimated that up to *one in three OSU students* were forced to cast provisional ballots.

10,000 Provisional Ballots and 20,000 Absentee Ballots remain to be counted...

JOIN *MARY JO KILROY* & AND FELLOW CITIZENS TO *DEMAND* FAIR ELECTIONS!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deborah Pryce is cast as a moderate Republican, but I watched the debate on the historic day the Ohio electors (Kerry v Bush) were challenged in Congress, Jan. 6, 2005.

There is no other way to say it -- Deborah Pryce was ugly and hateful that day -- her words only begin to convey it. She was joined by a number of other congresscritters who ridiculed citizen's efforts to get all votes counted. Of those, two have since resigned from Congress under pressure, one a primary supporter/creator of the Help America Vote Act, Ohio's Bob Ney.

<http://thomas.loc.gov/home/r109query.html>
Historic debate on challenge of presidential electors 1-06-05

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio.

But apparently some Democrats only want to gripe about counts, recounts, and recounts of recounts. So eager are they to abandon their job as public servants, they have cast themselves in the role of Michael Moore, concocting wild conspiracy theories to distract the American public. Such aspiring fantasy authors should note the facts before they let the ink dry on this tall tale.

... BOB NEY of Ohio.

For those thinking Mr. Anthony must be a part of this conspiracy, I would point out that in addition to his position on the elections board, Mr. Anthony serves as chairman of the Franklin County Democrat Party. He said that he is offended by accusations from a band of conspiracy theorists. ... Those who believe this election was stolen will always believe it. No amount of facts or evidence will convince them otherwise. ... debases all of us, and it merits a sad day in the history of this Nation.

...Mr. DELAY.

Mr. Speaker, what is happening here today is amazing but not surprising. Mr. Speaker, what we are witnessing here today is a shame. A shame. The issues at stake in this petition are gravely, gravely serious. This is not just having a debate. But the specific charges, as any objective observer must acknowledge, are not. That is because the purpose of this petition is not justice but noise. It is a warning to Democrats across the country, now in the midst of soul searching after their historic losses in November, not to moderate their party’s message.

It is just the second day of the 109th Congress and the first chance of the Democrat congressional leadership to show the American people what they have learned since President Bush’s historic reelection, and they can show that, but they have turned to what might be called the ‘‘X-Files Wing’’ of the Democrat Party to make their first impression.

Rather than substantive debate, Democrat leaders are still adhering to a failed strategy of spite, obstruction, and conspiracy theories. They accuse the President, who we are told is apparently a closet computer nerd, of personally overseeing the development of vote-stealing software. We are told, without any evidence, that unknown Republican agents stole the Ohio election and that its electoral votes should be awarded to the winner of an exit poll instead.

Many observers will discard today’s petition as a partisan waste of time, but it is much worse than that. It is an assault against the institutions of our representative democracy. It is a threat to the very ideals it ostensibly defends. ... If, as now appears likely, Democrats cry fraud and corruption every election regardless of the evidence, what will happen when one day voters are routinely intimidated, rights are denied, or, God forbid, an election is robbed? What will happen? What will happen when, God forbid, this quadrennial crying wolf so poisons our democratic processes that a similarly frivolous petition in a close election in the future is actually successful, and the American people are denied their constitutional right to choose their own President?

[OhioBlue]

1. what is taking so long to count the provisional and

absentee ballots?

[cmd]

2. They aren't counted until 11 (?) days after the election

I don't know why. It's just the way its done.

[OhioBlue]

4. thanks cmd

So, we won't really know anything until 11 days after the election...

[geiger]

3. It's the provisional ballots....

Voters have up to ten days to provide verification of identification, because of having moved recently, etc., any reasons for voting provisionally.

[OhioBlue]

5. thanks poli

Do you know if the campaigns know who voted provisional? I wonder if they can do outreach to encourage them to get to the BOE and verify... especially if they're registered Dem...

[seriousstan]

6. The voters were given a copy of their authorization to vote form.

Each of these forms have a unique number. On the back are instructions and the phone # for contacting the BOE. They have 10 days to call and rectify any problems. The vast majority should have no problems.

[Pokey Anderson]

7. The League of Women Voters is encouraging people on the

provisional ballots. Apparently every state has some procedure to facilitate that, if you voted that way.

Contact the LWV locally and see what they know or can do about getting provisionals validated.

[geiger]

8. We need 55% of the absentees and 60% of the provisionals to win.

There are still 20,000 ballots to be counted, I have now learned, and some of them are absentees. On the provisionals, I am of the mind that if people went to the trouble to vote , they are going to be motivated to follow up as well, but I am glad the League is out there, hopefully front and center, reminding them.