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Since the 2000 Florida fiasco, election administration has emerged as an area in serious need of democratic reform. In 2000, 77 of Ohio’s 88 counties voted on punch cards. Because of the clear problems with punch card voting, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act in 2002 which provided the states with money for computerized voting systems. However, there was no requirement that these systems have appropriate auditing. In 2003, Ohio became the first state to require a voter verified paper audit trail, a paper receipt confirming that the voter’s choices were correctly recorded, in response to criticism from Ohio Citizen Action and groups like the League of Women Voters of Ohio.
The Money in Politics Project continues to track election administration and changes in election law and advocate for an open, accountable voting process.
Recent News
May 6: Editorial: Keep law as it is
New voting equipment for Ohio counties should have a federal seal of approval
COLUMBUS -- "Perception and reality concerning Ohio's elections are starkly different. Since the overcrowded 2004 presidential vote, the perception held by some people is that voting in Ohio is either flawed or corrupt.
The reality is quite the contrary, but the perception is why Ohio counties would be ill-advised to buy new voting equipment before it's federally certified. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, the first Democrat in that office in 16 years, wants a change in law to allow purchasing equipment not yet certified by federal officials. Gov. Ted Strickland and the General Assembly should resist that," editorial, Columbus Dispatch.
May 5: Brunner seeks to speed up approval
COLUMBUS -- "Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner wants to eliminate a requirement that Ohio use only federally tested and approved voting systems, a move that would allow counties to buy new equipment certified only by the state as soon as the Nov. 4 election if they want.
The state would do its own testing, paid for by voting-machine vendors, using federally certified labs and new state standards that will exceed federal guidelines for accuracy, security and reliability, Brunner said,'" Mark Niquette, Columbus Dispatch, Published May 3.
Apr 29: Indiana can demand photo ID from voters
High court upholds law; no effect on Ohio, Brunner says
WASHINGTON, DC -- "Indiana's law requiring voters to show photo identification is constitutional, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday in a 6-3 vote that won't immediately affect Ohio elections.
Ohio's voter ID law does not require a photo.
The Ohio requirement calls for an accepted form of ID to be brought to the polling place, ranging from a photo ID such as a driver's license to documents such as a bank statement or utility bill.
Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner had joined chief elections officials in four other states who filed a brief opposing Indiana's photo requirement. The high court's ruling won't change things in Ohio, she said yesterday," Jonathan Riskind, Columbus Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, DC -- In a 6-to-3 vote, justices uphold a voter ID law, Linda Greenhouse, New York Times.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Analysis: Voter ID ruling widens partisan divide, Richard Wolf and Joan Biskupic, USA Today.
Apr 28: Supreme Court upholds photo ID law for voters in Indiana
WASHINGTON, DC -- "The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states can require voters to produce photo identification without violating their constitutional rights, validating Republican-inspired voter ID laws.
In a splintered 6-3 ruling, the court upheld Indiana's strict photo ID requirement, which Democrats and civil rights groups said would deter poor, older and minority voters from casting ballots. Its backers said it was needed to deter fraud.
It was the most important voting rights case since the Bush v. Gore dispute that sealed the 2000 election for George W. Bush," Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Top court upholds photo ID voting law, James Vicini, Reuters.
Ohio's voter ID law, Jennifer Brunner, Ohio Secretary of State.
The Supreme Court's decision,
Election Law @ Moritz. 
Apr 25: Cuyahoga County to audit March 4 presidential primary
CLEVELAND -- "he Cuyahoga County Board of Elections will conduct an audit of the March 4 presidential primary beginning Tuesday.
Teams represented by members of the Republican and Democratic parties will hand count 7 percent of the ballots. Precincts will be randomly selected.
After the weeklong process is complete, the totals will be compared with results from high-speed scanners used to tabulate the election.
The public will be permitted to view the audit at the board warehouse," Akron Beacon Journal.
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