Four years ago, many Ohioans were forced to wait up to 11 hours in line at the polls on Election Day. Some finally made it to the front of the line only to discover they weren't eligible to vote because they had not signed for mailings from election officials. According to House Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers (D-MI), the net effect was that three percent of all Ohio voters who showed up to vote on Election Day were forced to leave without casting a ballot. Most affected were inner city voters and college students, groups which predominantly vote Democratic. The three percent of voters turned away accounted for 55,000 more people than Bush's margin of victory in Ohio.
These problems and other abuses of former Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell (who simultaneously served as co-chair of Bush's re-election campaign in Ohio) were catalogued in Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s 2006 article for Rolling Stone magazine and the documentary film by Ohio University graduates How Ohio Pulled it Off. In response to widespread criticism of Blackwell's mishandling of the 2004 election, Ohio's formerly Republican-dominated state government passed new election laws in 2006 allowing Ohioans to vote early in person from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, or via mail anytime between now and Nov. 4.
Early voting may seem strange to all of us who've grown accustomed to voting the first Tuesday of November. But this election is supposed to be all about change, isn't it?
Voting early in person is by far the best way to go ' and not just because you'll get to avoid long lines. Since Ohioans can still register to vote at their current addresses until Oct. 6, you can make sure you're registered to vote and actually cast your ballot in one easy stop. This is particularly important for OU and Hocking College students who need to be registered in Athens County in order to vote here.
Voting early in person means you don't have to trust the U.S. Postal Service with a mail-in ballot. If something unexpected comes up on November 4, you'll already be covered. And thanks to you, shorter lines on November 4 will mean more people will have the time they need to vote on Election Day.
Finally, I know some folks enjoy participating in the spirit of Election Day on Nov. 4. For them, voting early frees up the time to volunteer as a poll worker, organize carpools to the polls or campaign for their candidate of choice. That sure sounds more participatory than just waiting in line!
So go to the Athens County Board of Elections at 15 S. Court St. any weekday from now through Monday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you need a ride there, just call 724-747-0335.
Vote early, vote easy. Vote today Ohio!
Damon Krane is the Athens County team leader for Vote Today Ohio.
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