Arnebeck To Blackwell: Hands Off Elections

[Columbus]

From
http://www.OhioHonestElections.org

Friday, September 1, 2006

New York Times: "Activists filed a civil-rights lawsuit Thursday claiming Secretary of State Ken Blackwell deprived people of their voting rights during the 2004 presidential election and seeking to have him removed from overseeing the general election in November."

''The court should appoint someone that everyone will say is honest and competent and will ensure that the appropriate security measures are in place and we don't have this kind of vulnerability in the next election,'' said attorney Cliff Arnebeck, who represents the plaintiffs. Blackwell, a Republican running for governor this November, said he sees the lawsuit not as an attack on him, but on Ohio's elections process, run by 88 bipartisan county elections boards. ''They're frivolous, they're off-base, and they're political,'' he said."

"Randy Borntrager, a spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party, said the party wants Blackwell to stop setting rules that affect his own campaign. ''We just want him to do his job,'' he said. ''It wouldn't be an issue if he would give clear directions to the boards of elections in the counties.'' Blackwell also said he would do what he could to keep ballots from the 2004 presidential election beyond their scheduled destruction date. Federal law requires the ballots be saved for 22 months following a federal election. That time period ends next week."

"Arnebeck had asked for the records to be preserved longer because the individuals and public interest groups he represents have found irregularities and anomalies among the ballots they have reviewed so far, and they want to keep digging. Arnebeck's sweeping lawsuit accuses Blackwell of violating state and federal laws and the U.S. Constitution by ''inequitably distributing voting resources, suppressing votes, and spoiling ballots'' in 2004, the letter said."

"Blackwell will not interfere with the group's review, spokesman James Lee said, though he emphasized that county elections boards have the final say regarding what happens to the records."

[Eurobabe]

1. Blackkkwell should have recused himself as SOS

a long time ago when he started running for Gov. That's like letting the fox guard the henhouse.

Conflict of interest much? Naaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh.

Can't wait to vote absentee for STRICKLAND!!

[Kurovski]

2. Kick. (nt)

[kster]

3. We need the same suit Brought forward in California,

Now, 1st Florida then Ohio, My best guess, they are trying to put the "election fix" in California next. Just a thought.
K and R........

[lonestarnot]

4. Good to hear that Cliff Arnebeck has not given up fighting!

[POAS]

5. James Lee gives the Green light to

every Republican county election official to destroy the very records that Blackwell says he will protect when he says:

"Blackwell will not interfere with the group's review, spokesman James Lee said, though he emphasized that county elections boards have the final say regarding what happens to the records."

Just more two faced political spin, they have no intention of complying.