Reform Ohio Now --- AP Article - Voters Fed Up

[NoBushSpokenHere]

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1073958

Noticed this link on lycos.com (also notice searching lycos seems to find more articles regarding fraud)


Ohio Election Activists Say Voters Fed Up




Tuesday, August 09, 2005 10:28 p.m. ET
By JOHN McCARTHY Associated Press Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Backers of three ballot issues to dramatically change Ohio elections said Tuesday that they are confident that voters are so sick of politics-as-usual that they will support the changes on Nov. 8.


More - see above link

[gristy]

1. Well, I am disappointed...

One of the ballot issues would change the way congressional and legislative districts are drawn, another would create a state elections board and the third would lower the individual limit on campaign contributions.

No ballot issue on VVPB? :(

[marions ghost]

4. now I'm NOT sure about this...

but the reason MAY be that Ohio has authorized going from punch-cards to opti-scan in all counties. (They do not have DREs). In that case, wouldn't it mean that they DO have voter verified paper ballots in the works already? Not 'receipts' either--REAL paper ballots, which are voter-verified before scanning, and saved for recounts. So what they need to do when they get this state elections board in place is to make the (precinct-based) optiscan systems work in a way that is completely transparent (and that would include the central tabulators). And hopefully this board would institute random recounts during the election process.

So technically I think they have VVPB already in the works, at least for the near future.

Maybe someone who is more knowledgeable about Ohio can confirm this??

[mod mom]

6. There is a Hand Count Paper Ballot initiative in the works but it will not

be on the Nov ballot. The RON initiatives were well funded and supported by labor and others. The Paper ballot intiative is being brought up by activists (read: self funded).

BTW there is a rumor out there in Ohio that the Dem Party will attempt to sabotage the redistricting initiative since they now think they can win back the state due to the Coingate/Republican scandals. Of course, they are being very short sighted if this is true. ( They didn't even challenge the machines in the recent district 02 race. ) They ignore us election reform activists about the issues of fraud in Ohio elections. If they continue, they will be in for a disappointment in '06. Remember Blackwell is still at the helm.

[marions ghost]

10. thanx for that info

do you think they are going to argue that they HAVE instituted VVPB (opti-scan) and therefore don't need hand-counting? Apparently the new opti-scan machines do have some features that make them more hackable (see Florida) unlike the older ones. I support the basic opti-scan technology but the new Diebold machines are an issue.

I'm sorry to hear that the local Democratic party is not really willing to tackle the harder election issues even when it would seem there's a growing opportunity in Ohio to do that. But I think this is the case in other states around the country. The state Democratic parties are just not willing to fight for this. I can't decide what percentage of that attitude is based on expediency, money issues, or believing it's a waste of time because of the Republican control of the whole system. You hear different theories. You are right that it's the election activists that are doing the fighting. Makes you wonder WHY the Dems don't want to deconstruct a system that is very much working AGAINST Democrats. :crazy:

[meganmonkey]

13. I saw a presentation from one of the organizers of these initiatives

(forget his name) at an election Reform Teach-In in Columbus and it seems to be really good stuff. Granted it doesn't cover our pet issue here, but it is important stuff and this seems like a good nonpartisan group with an excellent grasp on the legal stuff involved with this kind of initiative.

[AtLiberty]

2. nyt

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/10/national/10ohio.html?

[wli]

3. change is not enough; the perpetrators must be brought to justice

[freedomfries]

5. change will only start

after the perpetrators are brought to justice

[marions ghost]

9. the political will is not there

even if the legal mechanism is (and that varies too).

We have to start making changes anyway, even while acknowledging that the justice system is not working for addressing election grievances. If you look more closely you will see that a LOT of perpetrators of 'white collar' crimes are never brought to justice--this problem is rampant in this country.

[mod mom]

7. Absolutely! Unfortunately, the Ohio Dem Party has shown no interest in

pursuing justice. :(

[iconoclastNYC]

12. God I hate this knee jerk negativity

This is the best news in the Election Reform movement I've heard just about ever, and all you can do is spew negativity?

We have to celebrate progress as much as we can.

[riqster]

8. This is a good step towards institutionalizing a two-party democracy

The founders seem to have taken for granted that one party would not illegally take over an entire state. Since we know that it has happened, it is necessary to legislate a level playing field.

[iconoclastNYC]

11. I heard about this on Air America Radio

We should push AAR to put spokesmen for this effort on thier shows. I'm goign to email Randy now.

[Doo_Revolution]

14. Take the tabulators and workers into court now...

They haven't destroyed the evidence. Those BOE workers in Ohio who are responsible, should be brought to court by a special prosecutor.