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Ohio update #4: more on provisional ballots

By Josh Zaharoff
Posted on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 05:00:25 PM EST

Most voters at most polling places in Ohio today have voted without trouble, save for generally long lines.  But the primary cause for concern in Ohio today has been provisional ballots, which has affected thousands of voters.  We picked up on this problem this morning.

The state board of elections and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner have been responsive, according to the Election Protection teams in Ohio.  Now the Assistant Secretary of State has, in fact, been dispatched to deal with the provisional ballot issue and is coordinating with all of their regional liaisons to work directly with local Boards of Election.  Two major problems have arisen:

1. Poll workers have not always been directing people to the right polling place, instead having people cast provisional ballots at the wrong polling place.  According to Ohio law--which we criticized in our Voting in 2008 report--provisional ballots cast at the wrong polling place do not count.  Poll workers are required to direct people to the right polling place.

2. Isolated incidents of poll workers not accepting either driver's licenses without the voter's current address or a voter's utility bill, which are valid ID under Ohio law.  These voters have then been forced to cast a provisional ballot as opposed to a regular ballot.

The Assistant Secretary of State visited the Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) Election Protection command center and is working with his state liaisons to remedy both problems.


Tags: provisional ballots, election protection, election 08, voting, election day, ohio, in the states (all tags)


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Ohio update #4: more on provisional ballots :: 1 Comment

Provisional ballots in Harrison C, Montgomery Co.

  We had a total of 41 provisional ballots cast in our recent election last Tue. Nov. 4, 2008.  Most of the reasons included expired OH Drivers Licenses, using documents other than the usually acceptable proofs, i.e. insurance bills or hospital bills, and proving residence at a new address.  Most citizens were patient, but had not taken the trouble to verify their voting status prior to election day, an action that would have helped them to vote more easily.  We had several voters who lived in our precinct, but were not found on the Master voter list. Our vote total was 473 (raw count after close of poll), and did include the absentee votes.  Our previous vote totals were less than 150.  Elections are set up for low voter turnout, but this was an historic election. The 8% provisional ballots cast may or may not have been counted.  I will follow up with the local Mont. Co. Bd of Elections.  Presiding Judge, V. Beams

by von67trumpet on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 01:02:24 PM EST


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