OHIO: Voter-registration rules tossed

[kpete]

Voter-registration rules tossed
Ohio penalties go too far, federal judge decides
Saturday, September 02, 2006
M . R . Kropko
ASSOCIATED PRESS


CLEVELAND — A federal judge threw out new state rules governing voter-registration drives yesterday, saying they appear to violate the First Amendment and hurt efforts to sign up new voters.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen O’Malley issued an order from the bench halting enforcement of the registration rules. She said she planned to issue a detailed written order next week.

A coalition of voter-advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers sued the state, asking O’Malley to throw out the regulations. They said the rules were intimidating and impaired their registration drives, particularly in lowincome and minority areas, because they include criminal penalties.

The state said the rules were needed to deter voter fraud

more:
http://www.dispatch.com/?story=dispatch/2006/09/02/20060902-A1-02.html

[razors edge]

1. too bad

the cops will still set up searches at public housing areas and SOS blackbag will short the machines in "certain" precincts.