OBAMA CAMPAIGN SUES TO RESTRICT MILITARY VOTING

[Jambo4]

by MIKE FLYNN 2 Aug 2012, 11:48 AM PDT 

President Barack Obama, along with many Democrats, likes to say that, while they may disagree with the GOP on many issues related to national security, they absolutely share their admiration and dedication to members of our armed forces. Obama, in particular, enjoys being seen visiting troops and having photos taken with members of our military. So, why is his campaign and the Democrat party suing to restrict their ability to vote in the upcoming election?

On July 17th, the Obama for America Campaign, the Democratic National Committee and the Ohio Democratic Party filed suit in OH to strike down part of that state's law governing voting by members of the military. Their suit said that part of the law is "arbitrary" with "no discernible rational basis."

Currently, Ohio allows the public to vote early in-person up until the Friday before the election. Members of the military are given three extra days to do so. While the Democrats may see this as "arbitrary" and having "no discernible rational basis," I think it is entirely reasonable given the demands on servicemen and women's time and their obligations to their sworn duty. 

The National Defense Committee reports:

[f]or each of the last three years, the Department of Defense’s Federal Voting Assistance Program has reported to the President and the Congress that the number one reason for military voter disenfranchisement is inadequate time to successfully vote. 

I think its unconscionable that we as a nation wouldn't make it as easy as possible for members of the military to vote. They arguably have more right to vote than the rest of us, since it is their service and sacrifice that ensures we have the right to vote in the first place. 

If anyone proposes legislation to combat voter fraud, Democrats will loudly scream that the proposal could "disenfranchise" some voter, somewhere. We must ensure, they argue, that voting is easy and accessible to every single voter. Every voter, that is, except the men and women of our military. 

Make no mistake, the Democrat lawsuit is intended to disenfranchise some unknown number of military voters. The judge should reject it with prejudice. 

[PinkButterfly66]

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/07/18/obama-campaign-sues-ohio-for-cutting-early-voting-days/

The Obama campaign is suing the state of Ohio for restricting early voting in this year’s election, claiming that recent changes made by the Ohio legislature create inequality among voters and violate the Equal Protection Clause.

“This lawsuit seeks to treat all Ohio citizens equally under the law,” Bob Bauer, attorney for President Obama’s campaign committee, said. “We want to restore the right of all to vote before Election Day,” he said, according tothe Akron Beacon Journal.

The campaign says the election-law changes made by Ohio’s Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, unfairly ends in-person early voting for most people on the Friday evening before Election Day — a Tuesday — but allows military and overseas voters to cast ballots in person until Monday, AP reported.

Obama for America, the president’s campaign committee, is joined in the lawsuit by the Democratic National Committee and the Ohio Democratic Party. In a statement, the parties called the maneuver a “partisan attempt to restrict voting,” CNN noted.

Jon Husted, the Secretary of State in Ohio — named a defendant in the suit — said there is no constitutional violation because federal law treats military voters differently than other voters, Bloomberg reported. Mr. Husted also said he is taking steps to create uniformity and consistency in the election process.

“If this lawsuit were to prevail,” Mr. Husted said, “we would be back to a system that allows voters in one county to be treated different from another county,” Akron Beacon Journal reported.

Mr. Husted also told CNN that the three days before an election were needed for local election boards to “get their records straight” and “make sure their voting rolls are accurate.”

The days of early voting are often used by those who may not have the flexibility to take time off on a Tuesday to vote. More than 1.7 million people in Ohio voted before Election Day in 2008, accounting for about 30% of all ballots cast. About 100,000 of them voted in person in the final three days before the election, Akron Beacon Journal noted.

President Obama won Ohio’s electoral votes in the 2008 presidential election, in what was considered to be a battleground state. Ohio is thought to be one of the deciding factors again in this year’s election.

[29again]

I do agree with you on this front!  =)

Quoting timeforprogress:

As a veteran, I am pretty disgusted by the way they are using the military like pawns and playing on people's sympathies. If only they would really care about us, then they might actually address the real problems we are facing. A veteran commits suicide every 80 minutes. That is over 6500 deaths annually. So I am rather disturbed by this particular political stunt. It is rather disheartening.

Quoting DixieL:

Quoting timeforprogress:

Not true.  Try again.

The lawsuit is to extend the three day in person law to everyone.

Military members are protected under federal law that gives them 45 days for a mail in ballot. 

Wouldn't you know the whole thing is a lie. That's what Romney and the right-wing do best. Thanks for clearing that up.

[29again]

Quoting DixieL:

Reading about and seeing the video of the elections in Ohio , it is a travesty  what people had to go through to be able to vote. They should be adding not reducing early voting. This is another form of voter suppression and it's by design. Blackwell should be doing time for his role in '00&'04.

What exactly do you mean?  I have not had any trouble voting.  And I do not vote early, or by absentee.  I personally don't think it is right, that I should vote on Election day, although I do realize that some people may not be able to for whatever reason.  But why should early voting have yet MORE time? 

[29again]

Quoting PinkButterfly66:

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/07/18/obama-campaign-sues-ohio-for-cutting-early-voting-days/

The Obama campaign is suing the state of Ohio for restricting early voting in this year’s election, claiming that recent changes made by the Ohio legislature create inequality among voters and violate the Equal Protection Clause.

“This lawsuit seeks to treat all Ohio citizens equally under the law,” Bob Bauer, attorney for President Obama’s campaign committee, said. “We want to restore the right of all to vote before Election Day,” he said, according tothe Akron Beacon Journal.

The campaign says the election-law changes made by Ohio’s Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, unfairly ends in-person early voting for most people on the Friday evening before Election Day — a Tuesday — but allows military and overseas voters to cast ballots in person until Monday, AP reported.

Obama for America, the president’s campaign committee, is joined in the lawsuit by the Democratic National Committee and the Ohio Democratic Party. In a statement, the parties called the maneuver a “partisan attempt to restrict voting,” CNN noted.

Jon Husted, the Secretary of State in Ohio — named a defendant in the suit — said there is no constitutional violation because federal law treats military voters differently than other voters, Bloomberg reported. Mr. Husted also said he is taking steps to create uniformity and consistency in the election process.

“If this lawsuit were to prevail,” Mr. Husted said, “we would be back to a system that allows voters in one county to be treated different from another county,” Akron Beacon Journal reported.

Mr. Husted also told CNN that the three days before an election were needed for local election boards to “get their records straight” and “make sure their voting rolls are accurate.”

The days of early voting are often used by those who may not have the flexibility to take time off on a Tuesday to vote. More than 1.7 million people in Ohio voted before Election Day in 2008, accounting for about 30% of all ballots cast. About 100,000 of them voted in person in the final three days before the election, Akron Beacon Journal noted.

President Obama won Ohio’s electoral votes in the 2008 presidential election, in what was considered to be a battleground state. Ohio is thought to be one of the deciding factors again in this year’s election.

And this would be correct!  It needs to be more uniform throughout the state, which is what they tried to do, and now some don't like it, but I really can't fathom why.  What is wrong with having the same voting rules throughout the whole state?

[gum.drop]

this is so dumb.... both sides.

[DixieL]

Quoting 29again:

Quoting DixieL:

Reading about and seeing the video of the elections in Ohio , it is a travesty  what people had to go through to be able to vote. They should be adding not reducing early voting. This is another form of voter suppression and it's by design. Blackwell should be doing time for his role in '00&'04.

What exactly do you mean?  I have not had any trouble voting.  And I do not vote early, or by absentee.  I personally don't think it is right, that I should vote on Election day, although I do realize that some people may not be able to for whatever reason.  But why should early voting have yet MORE time? 

A better question is, what rationale is there for restricting early voting? Here in Nevada we have early voting from Oct. 20 thru election day. We've been free of issues or complaints from either party.

[29again]

Quoting DixieL:

Quoting 29again:

Quoting DixieL:

Reading about and seeing the video of the elections in Ohio , it is a travesty  what people had to go through to be able to vote. They should be adding not reducing early voting. This is another form of voter suppression and it's by design. Blackwell should be doing time for his role in '00&'04.

What exactly do you mean?  I have not had any trouble voting.  And I do not vote early, or by absentee.  I personally don't think it is right, that I should vote on Election day, although I do realize that some people may not be able to for whatever reason.  But why should early voting have yet MORE time? 

A better question is, what rationale is there for restricting early voting? Here in Nevada we have early voting from Oct. 20 thru election day. We've been free of issues or complaints from either party.

What rationale is there to extend it?  I would also like to know what you find to be such a travesty in Ohio.  No one is prevented from voting with NBP members standing around with billy clubs, or anything even CLOSE to that.  So, please, tell me what it is like in my state, what horrible things are going on?

[nanaofsix531]

LOL Another not true debunked.

[Mommy_of_Riley]

Because many are not allowe off of work to go vote. Others are deployed or away on training...

Quoting rccmom:

That doesn't sound right. I think I can see their point, why are they given 3 extra days and no one else is, but considering all the military does, it seems like small concession.  

[rccmom]

I know, both my hubby and I were military at one point. When you are deployed, you can do a absentee ballot, I believe. I have to say when I lived in Ohio, I found their voting laws rather unfriendly overall.

 

Quoting Mommy_of_Riley:

Because many are not allowe off of work to go vote. Others are deployed or away on training...

Quoting rccmom:

That doesn't sound right. I think I can see their point, why are they given 3 extra days and no one else is, but considering all the military does, it seems like small concession.