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I sent this to Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on August 17, 2008 at 12:20:52 A.M. EDT

http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/163/77605.html?1218918865


Black Box Voting » Ohio » (OH) Hamilton County » (OH) 8/08 - Hamilton: Pick your poison: long lines, delays, or chain of custody problems

From BBV Admin): I've been doing the math on November's election, and the problems with long lines and delays are going to be real and brutal. Why? Because in the mad rush to computerized voting machines, statewide databases and electronic pollbooks, no one actually did any studies to assess the impact on waiting time. Computerized elections unanticipated consequences, besides the ceding of power over to insiders and vendors, are that counties are being forced to shell out ancillary costs that they have no money for and voters are being forced away from neighborhood polling places and Election Day voting. Counties end up dipping into their general fund or contingency funds, taking money away from needed community support, and voters are forced to choose candidates several days before everyone else, subjecting their ballots to iffy chain of custody procedures.

WCPO-9 - Aug. 8, 2008

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=b767279e-4b18-4b14-a981-5a6 c95d1bb26

Hamilton Co. Urges Early Absentee Voting For November

It may be hard to believe but the November elections are now less than three months away.

With extremely heavy voting expected this November, how and when you vote could change drastically, if election officials get their way.

On Thursday, the Hamilton County Board of Elections decided it will urge Hamilton County's almost 600,000 registered voters to vote early, and by absentee ballot.

The fear is that if upwards of 80 percent of registered voters wait until election day, they could face long waits and delays in voting. Since March 1, Hamilton County added another 11,000 new voters to its rolls.

Just this past March, Hamilton County saw record numbers casting absentee ballots early in the Presidential primary. Now, the Hamilton County Board of Elections wants to boost that early voting to reduce the risk of problems on Election Day.

Deputy Hamilton County Elections Director John Williams says, "We are looking at a massive absentee campaign this year. We are looking at the potential of a multiple page ballot. We believe it's going to be two pages at least and potentially more. That would obviously slow voters down."

At Thursday's election board meeting, plans were approved to expand the early absentee voting room at the elections board. Officials say this will make it easier to vote absentee early.

On downtown streets, community organizations like ACORN have busy and active in voter registration drives.

ACORN voter registration worker Antony Jemson has been on the job since February. He tells 9News, "I get a lot of mixed reactions. Some people say they don't vote. Then a lot of people are willing to sign up because I'm out here trying to do something positive. I'd say, by the week, I probably average about 125 people."

At a voter registration table outside the Hamilton County Courthouse, another group wants to put a referendum against tighter payday loan rules on the ballot.

Athena Marie is a paid petition worker. We asked her how many new voter registrations she collects a day. Marie says, "About 20 to 30 a day, but we get 150 signatures a day, which is what we are paid for."

Combine that with voter registration efforts by candidates, and election officials felt they had to take special action to be ready for November 4.

John Williams adds, "We're going to send an absentee ballot application to every voter in Hamilton County 60 days prior to the election. That idea is to try to relieve problems on Election Day."

Another way you may be able to help make for a smooth election, is to sign up to be a poll worker on Election Day. You can find out more about that by calling your county election board or your county clerk or visiting their web sites.


Jane Schiff
Voting Rights Forum Participant


Post Number: 6
Registered: 8-2008

Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?)
Posted on Friday, August 15, 2008 - 9:03 pm:

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Bev - If John Williams, the Deputy Director sends UNSOLICITED absentee ballots out to registered voters we are looking at a trainwreck of purged and Provisional voters. There is a policy in Hamilton County that once you are sent an Absentee Ballot, you HAVE to follow very specific rules. I fear that the computer systems can't distinguish between SOLICITED Absentee Ballots and UNSOLICITED Absentee Ballots.


Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin

Post Number: 9348
Registered: 12-2004

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Votes: 0 (A keeper?)
Posted on Friday, August 15, 2008 - 9:07 pm:

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Clarification - the way I read it they are sending absentee ballot APPLICATIONS, not absentee ballots.


Jane Schiff
Voting Rights Forum Participant


Post Number: 7
Registered: 8-2008

Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?)
Posted on Friday, August 15, 2008 - 10:25 pm:

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Thank you for the clarification. My concern remains because of very strict rules concerning the mechanisms that lock into place. I fear the computers cannot distinguish between unsolicited absentee ballot applications and solicited absentee ballot applications. Oncoming trainwreck of Provisional and purged voters.


Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin

Post Number: 9357
Registered: 12-2004

Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?)
Posted on Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 12:09 pm:

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Jane, I think only the act of completing an application for an absentee ballot is likely to get people into potential roadblock territory. Simply sending them an absentee ballot APPLICATION, if they never fill it out and send it back, is unlikely to cause either purging or provisional status.


Jane Schiff
Voting Rights Forum Participant


Post Number: 8
Registered: 8-2008

Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?)
Posted on Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 1:34 pm:

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Here is the Hamilton County Ohio BOE internet application for the absent voter's ballot application form. IF THE VOTER DEVIATES FROM THE ABSENTEE VOTING PROCEDURE AFTER RECEIVING AN APPLICATION (NOT BY COMPLETING IT AND RETURNING IT) the Voter WILL cast a Provisional Vote. Please see the area in bold print above the Signature of Voter line. Also it is disturbing that the form is dated August 2008 and according to the INSTRUCTIONS at the bottom the use of the form is OPTIONAL. The trigger is the mere act of requesting the form and then deviating from absentee voting procedures. Hence I do not think that the computers could distinguish between solicited forms and unsolicited forms if sent to voters. John Williams in the above article said he's mailing a form to every voter.



http://www.hamilton-co.org/BOE/AbsenteeApp.pdf

Form No. 11-A Prescribed by the Secretary of State (08-08)
APPLICATION FOR ABSENT VOTER'S BALLOT
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE (See Instructions at Bottom of Page)
Send Ballot to:
(if different from home address)
Voter's Name ______________________________________ Name ___________________________________________
Home Address _____________________________________ care of/PO Box ____________________________________
City, Village, Office _________________________________ Address __________________________________________
County ____________________Zip Code _______________ City__________________ State______ Zip Code_________
You must provide your birthdate: ___________/__________/__________ and one of the following:
(month) (day) (year)
Your Ohio driver's license number__________________________, or
The last four digits of your social security number ____________________, or
Copy of a current and valid photo identification, a military identification, or a current (within the last 12 months)
utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document (other than a voter
registration notification mailed by a board of elections) that shows your name and current address.
I wish to vote in the following election to be held on _______________________________.
(month-date-year of election)
Check ONLY one (A separate application must be completed for each election):
1. Primary Election:
Democratic 2. General Election
Republican
Nonpartisan or issues only 3. Special Election
I wish to have a ballot mailed to me at the address listed above. I understand that if a ballot is mailed to me and I
change my mind and appear at my polling place to vote on Election Day, I will be required to vote a provisional
ballot that can not be counted until at least 10 days after the election.
I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification, I am a qualified voter and the statements above are true
to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that if I do not provide the requested information, my
application cannot be processed.
X____________________________________________________ __________________________
Signature of Voter Date Signed
Voluntary: To assist the board of elections in contacting you in a timely manner if your application is incomplete:
Your daytime telephone number (___)__________________ Your e-mail address _______________________________
WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE
INSTRUCTIONS
Chapter 3509. of the Revised Code of Ohio
1. Use of this form is optional. To be valid, your application must include your name, voting residence address, date of birth, and
signature; the election for which the ballot is requested and, if a partisan primary election, your political party affiliation; statement
you are a qualified elector in the county; and one of the following: your Ohio drivers license number, the last four digits of your
social security number, or a copy of your current and valid photo identification, a military identification, or a current (within the last
12 months) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document (other than a voter registration
notification mailed by a board of elections) that shows your name and address.
2. An application by mail must be received by your county board of elections by noon on the third day before the election. An
application by you in person must be received by the close of regular board office hours the day before the election. Applications for
persons who are hospitalized or for persons whose minor child is hospitalized due to an accident or unforeseeable medical
emergency will be accepted until 3 p.m. on Election Day.
3. When you receive your ballot: If you return your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked* no later than the day before Election Day
and received by your county board of elections no later than 10 days after the election. If you return your ballot in person or if a near
relative delivers it to the board for you, it must delivered to your county board of elections no later than the close of polls on Election
Day. If you are a voter outside of the United States on Election Day, the ballot envelope must be signed or postmarked before the
close of polls and received by the board no later than 10 days after Election Day or 20 days after a presidential primary election.
*Postmarked does not include a date marked by a postage evidence system such as a postage meter.