Associated Press
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted (R)
Ohio's Republican Secretary of State, Jon Husted, has invested an enormous amount of time and energy into putting new barriers between voters and their democracy, though as we've reported several times in recent months, his efforts have often been rejected by courts.
But Husted isn't quite finished.
Four days before Election Day, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted emphasized to boards of elections a step that voters who use provisional ballots on Tuesday will have to take.
Voters will be obligated to write on the provisional ballot form what type of ID they show at the polls and not rely on poll workers to do it for them, according to the directive issued late Friday afternoon.
Andrew Cohen, a legal analyst for The Atlantic, walks through what's transpired.
On Thursday, voting-rights advocates filed an "emergency motion" with a federal trial judge seeking his reassurance that provisional ballots in Ohio will be judged by the standard he endorsed (and Ohio reportedly agreed to) in a recent consent decree. That standard, the plaintiffs say, is "that a provisional-ballot form that has incomplete or improperly completed information regarding the type of identification proffered by a voter should be counted pursuant" to Ohio law, which, they say, makes the poll worker responsible for taking down the information. Here's a link to that motion.
Ohio has not yet responded to it with a filing in court -- the state's deadline is Monday. But it was a full dayafter this motion was filed that the secretary of state, at 6 p.m. on the Friday before the election, issued his contrary directive, the text of which you can read in this timely piece by Judd Legum.
Ari Berman, who's done some terrific reporting on this issue all year, said this new Republican voter-suppression tactic "could delay the outcome of the election and the legitimacy of the final vote," and even has the potential to "swing Ohio" to Romney/Ryan.
Leave a Comment:
Since Husted was elected in 2010, I assume that he will be up for re-election in 2014. If the good people of Ohio, for whom I have always had the utmost respect (having been born there), re-elect this idiot at that time, they will be guilty of electoral malpractice.
The Democrats who are thinking of running in 2014 for Ohio Secretary of State should already have more than enough material for every TV ad they will run.
He needs to be put in Prison by the Federal Judge. Both Ohio and Florida needs to be investigated by the DOJ no matter who is elected! The SOS and Governors need to be held accountable, especially in the event of an Obama loss. We must not forget what these people are doing, even those of us from other States. Remember out the hanging chads in Florida effected us! These people are CROOKS!
Husted proves that these wingnuts really are "the cockroaches of American politics" as Frank Rich termed them. Every time you think he's been stepped on, he comes back.
The guy makes Kenneth Blackwell look like a paragon of virtue.
I think there is a position on the Board of Director's at ACORN for this guy....
Why can't these elected officials be arrested by DOJ. Haul them off in handcuffs and it will suddenly get easier to vote. Hold them until the election is over. I thought we had laws against Voter Suppression, Federal Laws?
Gee, pascoguy, you keep coming up everywhere with your little ACORN comments. Are you going to go for the pecan, walnut and almond remark again?
Well, I'll say it again just for clarity. ACORN was thoroughly investigated and was found clear of all wrong doing.
Got the message yet?????
This one more time the ballot will have to be handled slowing the line and all of the ballots handled in this way may be invalid because the state was commanded by the court that the "worker" shall fill in the type of ID...
This guy should brought up on Federal charges. Not only has he been denying the right to vote, but continuously ignoring Supreme Court rulings.
Funny thing about that,
Husted ran out of sack when The Judge wanted to see Husted for his lack of action, I guess Husted was looking at a contempt of court charge.
The Hell of it is, someone has to do something illegal to be charged, and if the laws aren't on the books, or the laws have been removed from the books, there is nothing we can do BUT vote him out.
.
.
He hasn't said that he's making sure that Ryan / Romney win Ohio like the SOS of Pa. did, but that's his goal, and everyone sees it. What the courts do about it is something different. Most of the courts are controlled by cons.
I guess if you can't win any other way...SUPPRESS THE LEGITIMATE VOTES!
We have to show up in big numbers this election to make it clear that efforts to block votes, will only result in more votes. Then after this election we have to move with even greater numbers to solidify a voting process that ensures fair, accessible, and free elections.
I would love to put "out to pasture" the idea that most money wins elections, as well as have the voter suppression tactics bring out even more. It can be done.
I'm in Ohio and I've been pushing for Husteds removal since he started this "Stuff".
Seems the only thing we can do is vote Husted out. And hope things aren't fixed so he and his ilk can't be voted out.
.
You need a smart attorney. Husted can be impeached if he has committed a misdemeanor. Someone should be able to make the case that he has willfully violated the election laws of Ohio or is in violation of a judge's order!
I'm betting someone like the Koch Brothers have promised Husted a real good job, because unless the people of Ohio are braindead (NOT!) then this jerk has no political future!!!
ROB, Is the MSM reporting on this issue?
I'm not familiar with the specifics of OH law on impeachment, but if it's similar to the Federal process (and it probably is) than this is not likely to work, if only because of the obviously nakedly partisan nature of the modern Rape-Public-CON Party.
OH State House: 59-40 Rape-Public-CON
OH State Senate: 23-10 Rape-Public-CON
At this point, I suspect that Husted could be found in bed with a dead naked boy, and the OH legislature still wouldn't impeach him. And I'm pretty sure that in OH there is no statutory provision for statewide "recall" of malfeasant officials. So, I think Rob Berman is right:
Good luck with that!
Get Enraged and Engaged:
Mooch the Vote 2012!
;-)
This is outrageous! At the polls in Texas...the poll worker takes your ID and scans it into the machine...then you sign...efficient....no matter what political party you resign yourself to this should be stopped. Somebody please sue this guy!
I think that is a great option to have for those who have ID in time for this election. Maybe more states will have those in time for 2016.
However, you do not have to have an ID... your voter registration card has a scannable bar code on it too..This guy is just trying to suppress legitimate voting!!
Of course you would, Liz.
People like you don't want minorities, the poor, and the elderly to vote.
I agree Donna. It is a shame how voting has changed since Obama won in 08. They have signed pledges not to support any efforts of the POTUS and do whatever "they" can to make him a one term Pres. I can't get over the Republican(ts) saying they have to take their country back. Highly offensive if you decode the message. Do you blog or facebook or anything like that?
Geeze! This IS 2012 isn't it? I keep thinking it's perhaps Mississippi circa 1958.
Bailiff!! Whack his pee-pee ...
That was the 1970's, 1958 south was "whites only" all over buildings and water fountains.
What are you talking about?! WHAT was the 1970's? Do you literally think the voter rights marches were taking place in the 70's?
No if you had bothered to read the posts instead of cherry picking you would have noticed she said "1958 bailiff Whack his pee pee", which came out in the 1970's on Cheech and Chongs Big Bamboo LP record. 1958 was still segregation and the voter rights marches didn't start until 1962.
Thanks for the memories lmao , classic album
Pure scum of the earth. How can a person do these things with a straight face. Dirty politics at its worst. What a thug.
I will do what I can to see he's not re-elected in 2014. I cannot believe these idiots were voted into office. Husted, Kasich, Mandel, Mike DeWine (particularly his dumb dumb). What were the voters in my state thinking? Apparently no one voting for these guys did any research on them. Now they're crying foul. Too late, voters. Too late.
The Secretary of State position should be an entirely nonpartisan one. We traded crooked Kenneth Blackwell for even worse Jon Husted. You bet I WILL be paying attention in 2014. The blatant attempts of voter suppression all across this country have been a sickening testament to what the GOP feels is entirely ethical.

What the public has not really heard and what the media has yet to outline is that the agenda of the Republicans is to take over state governments and especially the secretary of state office.
The secretary(s) of state frequently are in charge of the state election rules and processes. As republicans have control of the legislatures and governor's office, there is no check on changing how the vote is rigged or the congressional districts are gerrymandered.
For anyone not convinced, do some digging into the recent histories of the flipping of the state of Texas (and subsequent unlawful gerry mandering), the debacles in Florida and Ohio in 2000, 2004. Also the history of when Schwarzeneggar was installed as governor of California.
Shortly after the bogus recall of an elected Democrat governor and the installation of the Schwarzeneggar tool, the republicans' agenda was to remove the democrat secretary of state, Kevin Shelley. They did but the people wouldn't let them go any further.
I am sure it was Rove's doing. But, think about it, with the electoral votes of Texas and California in the bag, winning the electoral college would be a wrap.
Don't be fooled. The republicans have a long range plan. The dems need to understand this and wake up.
I think it's time to backlash hard the opposite way from Republicans. It's the only real way to get the message to them. They thought TP was an omen that the entire nation was ready for their b.s., as one.
No, no not non partisan, they already conceal their agenda, disguise it as non partisan is not real. Let candidates state their agenda clearly. IMHO we need to know what they have in mind and hold feet to fire.
How were they elected into office? It wasn't because the Republicans magically found more Republican voters and created a majority. It was because Democrats didn't vote, since too many Democrats only think it matters every four years to vote for President. The Wingnuts know that EVERY ELECTION is important, and until we learn that, they will keep doing this stuff. And winning.
Judges should be non-partisan too. Republicans should be in The Guinness Book of World Records for the most obstruction, lies and suppression of all time.
And never forget their record use of the filabuster to stop any progress the President came up with.
I understand what Husted's doing, but I'm not at all sure I understand why he'd think this would stand up in court. His suppression efforts have been rejected before; and considered that he's given no particular reason for this other than for what it's obviously intended, I'd think the courts will reject this as well.
There's simply no legitimate reason to be making things harder on voters.
Press the fight ever onward, Ohio. We're all counting on you.
Obama/Biden 2012
Amen to that, RyanAshlight!
Whether its Tuesday or in the courts we will win this thing.
Husted's actions are so bad, it almost behooves us to create a human invasion (occupy Ohio) kind of effort. Lots of folks of all ages need to converge on this man's office and ask him to resign. Then go to the Governor's office and ask him to take some action. Husted is beyond control if he won't listen to the courts. Husted's behavior is sinister.
I've been saying the Repubs know they can't win unless they lie, cheat and steal or buy, supress and obstruct. Yet, they want to be our moral compass? I'm scared, I'm very scared.
The GOP has become the GOTEA Party:
Do they have anything they are for? ...oh yes, tax breaks for the 1%
Kill the unions and deregulate; anything to destroy the middle class. Get rid of affirmative action. Oppose watchdog groups who protect average Americans from loansharking lenders. It seems anything that takes away from the advancement and protection of minorities, women and the non-rich they support whole-heartedly. It's sickening. They are only for a certain people, rich white people.
...literally "sickening" Lonny.
Is he getting away with this? Is anything in the works to stop what he is doing? If he ignores court orders can he be arrested? Why can't he be stopped from doing this? Will the courts allow him to disrupt the count and throw out ballots? WTF is going to happen here!!!!!!
And what about all the last minute "software patches" we've read about that seem to only have been installed in Democratic leading districts?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=460330714006421&set=a.433295386709954.96727.433288343377325&type=1&theater
I am scared to death of electronic ballot manipulation. Will we know? I live in Ohio and I believe it has happened before.
Let's not forget about the unvetted software updates in multiple Ohio precincts that Husted has approved in the 11th hour. Given the unusual 2004 results, shouldn't there be some sort of independent vetting process for any tinkering to vote counting or reporting software?? Rachel, please make this known!!
Info just for Democrats. Call your local liberal radio talk show and tell them!
http://felonvoting.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=286
Unfortunatley, here smackdab in the middle of Kansas, we don't HAVE a liberal talkshow!
What is wrong with our laws that someone can get away with this and hurt so many.
Petition to investige Tags Romney's voting machines by Eric Holder.
http://www.credoaction.com/campaign/romney_ohio/?rc=homepage&utm_expid=16130742-25&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dcredo%2520voting%2520machines%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CCsQFjAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.credoaction.com%252Fcampaign%252Fromney_ohio%252F%253Frc%253Dhomepage%26ei%3DlZWVUMyvK8rY2QX-noCYAw%26usg%3DAFQjCNH_vhbOp_4YOC_Hr7vuzGEMyXaytA
Anybody still think that the Republican Party cares about American values of democracy and fairness? l live in Ohio, and am ashamed this idiot is the SoS. John Husted is like a crack addict: no matter how many times the courts spank him, he's too stupid to stay away from the dealer.
This weasel and all of the cheaters should never hold another public or government office ever again, deny the people to do what is their right to do in any shape or form should be looked down upon as treason and terror tactics, sorry for the strong words but this type of thing is just plain evil.
Don't get made-get even. VOTE and jump through the hoops so you can vote creeps like this out of office. Voting is more important than ever now that we have a republican party that wants to get rid of your right to do so.
Question: What type of American would go along with voter suppression? Voting equals freedom and liberty. Voter suppression is the beginning of a dictatorship.
Very scary stuff; this guy should be found in contempt; locked away until 2014.
Rachel, please post a story explaining why more Ohio voters now have to use provisional ballots. I hope you'll do a backgrounder on air and here for those of us who have not followed every details of the Ohio court fights, etc. Many people think if you have to file a provisional ballot, you are somehow less worthy in the first place, which is ridiculous, of course. In Wisconsin, we see a lot of push by Republicans to force voters to provisional ballots on election day, especially since we have same day registration and sometimes voters have the wrong residence proof when they want to register at the polls. We (Dems) try to get them to go home and get the right proof on election day, rather than vote provisionally and then return within the (now) three-day time limit with the necessary document. Slippage and shenanigans can occur in SO many ways, as we see in Ohio now. A big story on this would be great. If it comes down to Ohio, there will be serious delays about the outcome of this election.
TRMS STAFF! Ohio will deliver many surprises up to three weeks AFTER Election Day as well (because there are key squares that Mercury makes during the retrograde period, which could indicate REVERSALS, and then REVERSALS OF THE REVERSALS).
The only parallel to this kind of Mercury thing is the election in 2000 (Bush v. Gore). But at that time Mercury was retrograde and stationing DIRECT. And I believe we got a FALSE election result, care of the Supreme Court.
This time Mercury is stationing RETROGRADE on Election Day, and at least according to Eric Frances below (and many other astrologers online, who are also weighing in on this topic), it's more like we get the FALSE result first, then the truth comes out at a later time.
One other thing I've been looking at, care of Eric Frances's web site, is also the horoscope for the state of Ohio (which had an odd astrological "birth" since it was accepted into the union on a particular date, but not fully ratified, because they forgot about it or something). So Ohio is a state that has an odd "astrological sign." One that indicates rulership of a "will to power" and a tendency for all kinds of shady dealings.
If you take this particular kind of Mercury Stationing Retrograde on Election Day seriously (I do), take a look. The crap that went down in 2000 was not child's play, after all.
Check this out:
Mercury Retrograde Election Day
Posted: 10/03/2012 5:46 pm
Horse crap.
I own the A to Z Delineator and no more can ascribe actual events to horoscopes, ephemeral, or sidereal than the odds of picking a winning lotto ticket.
Thanks anyway, and yes I read the signs every day in the paper, can't say I wasn't brought up that way. My grandfather read it daily, at best, a parlor game.
Well, Robman, we have an empirical test opportunity before us, then! Simply watch the election unfold, and if the Mercury Retrograde Station has no effect, I will wholeheartedly agree with you that it IS horsecrap!
However, if you see at least one or two reversals in Ohio, threats and possible lawsuits, and an overall general uproar, WILL YOU say it isn't horsecrap?
;-)
Unbefarginlievable.
This one of those deals where the last minute fix goes in place, & by the time the court can act, the election is over.