Big news out of Ohio today. Ohio has passed a law to allow same day voter registration and early voting. These laws typically help to increase low income and minority turnout which clearly helps Barack Obama. It is good for voters as well because it makes voting so much easier. Many non-voters don’t realize they need to be registered ahead of time to vote; they go to vote on election day and are turned away. Same day registration fixes that problem and allows everyone to that wants to.
Early voting makes voting much easier for people that have trouble getting to the polls. Usually these are people who work long or odd hours, or people such as single mothers that work two jobs. Giving these folks extra time to plan when they can cast their vote is just the right thing to do. Everyone has a right to vote and should be given the opportunity to do so.
Of course Republicans don’t like more people exercising their right to vote:
In Ohio, Republicans are clearly not pleased with same-day registration and voting and have not ruled out a lawsuit against Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner’s office.
“You have to wonder, when they look at what they consider a loophole with such excitement,” said Jason Mauk, the Ohio Republican Party’s executive director. “That would suggest manipulating the process, and I think opens the door to suspicion.”
Typical of Republicans. Whenever a law is passed that helps people vote they scream about voter fraud. Note to Republicans: it’s not voter fraud to allow legal U.S. citizens every opportunity to vote.
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FYI — the law in question was passed in 2006 and signed into law by former Governor Bob Taft. This is nothing new.
I can understand Repub Party fears to an extent: they’re worried more minorities and college students will come out in droves. But will they? Really? Them?
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