Voting rights groups sue Ohio officials including Sec of State Blackwell

[mtnester]

for allegedly violating federal voter registration law.

Voting rights groups filed a lawsuit against Ohio officials, including Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell for allegedly violating a federal voter registration law.

"A federal lawsuit filed in Cleveland today charges that Ohio's Secretary of State, Kenneth Blackwell, and the Director of its Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS), Barbara Riley, have violated the rights of thousands of low-income Ohioans by failing to provide voter registration opportunities in public assistance offices as required by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)," according to a press release received by RAW STORY. "The NVRA is a federal law enacted 13 years ago to encourage voter registration and turnout in elections."

"The lawsuit, brought by Carrie Harkless, Tameca Mardis and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), alleges that offices of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services failed to provide Harkless, Mardis and thousands of other low-income Ohioans with the opportunity to register to vote or change their voter registration address during visits to DJFS offices to apply for or recertify their eligibility for public assistance benefits," the press release continues.....

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Voting_rights_groups_sue_Ohio_officials_0921.html

[geiger]

1. I would say hah, ha

except, what a mess.

I find this story very interesting, esp. in the light that we know that R leaders all around the country are pulling out all the stops to inhibit voting, harass voters, intimidate would-be voters.

[mtnester]

2. Mega precincts, massive changes of poll locations

If you want some perspective, go here and right click to save the Excel files from 2004, then read them at your leisure...I was part of Election Protection, and the "troop movement" happening now is MUCH more massive

http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/03/database-of-columbus-ohio-voter.html

[geiger]

3. It's so brazen

it makes you not want to believe it. Our very democracy is at stake.