New Democratic voter registrations are up 250% in Ohio. Democrats throughout the "Buckeye State" are prepared to turn out in record numbers to demand change on November 2nd in federal, state and local elections.
With only 6 days left before the voter registration deadline, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell is trying to bar thousands of newly registered voters from the polls.
Citing an arcane ruling requiring voter registration cards be printed on 80 pound paper stock, Blackwell is threatening to void registrations submitted on any other paper, demanding these registrants re-apply. But there is no time to reapply which could leave thousands of new voters off the rolls.
Tens of thousands of Ohioans have registered online or with registration forms printed in newspapers, copied by friends, community activists, and even state offices. These are valid applications that must be processed immediately.
We've known all along that Republicans were going to play hardball with new registrations this year. Secretaries of State are supposed to empower voters, not disenfranchise them. There are two easy actions that ASZ readers can do to protest this obvious ploy to disenfranchise voters:
- Sign the ACT petition.
- Write or call Mr. Blackwell, and ask him why an African American such as himself would want to disenfranchise a largely minority population from voting. Here's the address, phone number, and email:
J. Kenneth Blackwell-R
180 E. Broad St., 15th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-3910
E-Mail: blackwell@sos.state.oh.us
