Blackwell's Rules.....The Attempt to Control the Vote in Ohio

There is something terribly wrong with a system when a candidate for Governor can issue rules governing who can vote in an election. America is not a dictatorship form of government, so how is this happening? Well, it's happening here in Ohio where the Secretary of State is running for governor. And, the Secretary of State is in control of how State elections are conducted. He is the one who makes up the rules of play.

The man in question is Ken Blackwell. He has once again put into place "emergency" regulations that could possibly criminalize the work of voter registration workers. The rules appear to be another blatant attempt to shut down voter registration in Ohio.

Blackwell has a history of these kinds of tawdry tricks on the electorate. In 2004, he instructed county boards of elections to reject any registrations on paper that was the "wrong" paper stock. He backed down under harsh and wide spread criticism. But the order was in place long enough to get some registrations invalidated.

This time around He has come up with a rule that says paid registration workers, and volunteers who collect registrations, must PERSONALLY take the forms they collect to the election office.

Now organizations, like the League of Women Voters, for instance, generally have their volunteers turn in the forms to a supervisor who then takes them to the election office after first reviewing them for errors.

Blackwell's rule would make everyone involved in the exchange a criminal.

Blackwell also says the forms CANNOT be mailed to the election office. That would seem to be a violation of federal elections law.

Blackwell issued these edicts because he feels he has the backing of the Republican Controlled Ohio Legislature.

The moves are a clear grab at power and an attempt to keep the GOP in control of Ohio.

If Blackwell were as honest and as forth right as he wants us to believe then he would have given the election procedures control over to someone who has nothing to gain.

He does not deserve the power with which he has been entrusted.