Record Provisional Voting in Swing State Ohio

[Wilms]

Record Provisional Voting in Swing State Ohio

By The Associated Press | Saturday, November 15, 2008

~snip~

Some election experts say the number is far too high and exposes problems in the voting system. Others say the provisional ballots show the system is working by protecting voters.

More than 193,000 provisional ballots were issued for the Nov. 4 election, far more than the 159,000 cast four years ago despite fewer voters going to the polls this year.

~snip~

"The disenfranchisement is so much smaller now than what it used to be," Davidson said.

Ohio had one of the nation's highest rates of provisional ballots — 81 percent — counted toward results in the 2006 elections. That can make calling a close race more difficult.

Provisional ballots account for the highest number of uncounted ballots in a central Ohio congressional race that still hasn't been called.

Republican Steve Stivers of suburban Columbus leads Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy by just 149 votes in the 15th Congressional District.

Almost all of the uncounted provisional votes — just over 27,000 — are in Franklin County, which leans Democratic.

~snip~

A look at provisional voting in Ohio in 2004:

Number of provisional ballots cast: 158,642

Number found to be valid: 123,548

Percentage of valid provisional ballots: 78

County with most provisional ballots: Cuyahoga, 25,309 (66 percent found valid)

County with next highest total: Hamilton, 14,564 (76 percent found valid)

Third highest: Franklin, 14,462 (84 percent found valid)

Results for 2008 are still being tallied.

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/11/15/election/doc491f23c7e5837534264944.txt

[Ian David]

1. They TRIED to steal it, but we turned-out in numbers too big for them to do it. n/t

[Wilms]

2. The vote exceeded the margin of theft, or even just the margin of voting system error.

I'm relieved...a little. :scared:

[bluestateguy]

4. Having Jennifer Brunner in there was a big help

She fought to protect people's voting rights and went to the mat to do it.

Now we need to make sure that she stays Secretary of State so Ohio is not stolen in 2012.

[spag68]

3. The vote

I say keep the pressure on. Keep registering new voters, and keep voting until we kill the GOP once and for all. I hope to see the day when the Dems are to the right of the other major party. Then I Will feel like I belong.

[Eric J in MN]

5. In Minnesota, provisional ballots are rare because...

...we have Election Day Registration at the polls.

Instead of demanding people prove their identities for one election, people can prove their identities and be registered for that election and future electiosn.

[Bill Bored]

6. Election Day Registration = good idea. nt