“Suffrage” “Franchise”

Voting is State Regulated

States control most of election law and procedure Nationwide: 500,000+ office holders of over 90,000 positions! Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted (R)

General Elections vs. Primary Elections vs. Special Elections

Federal Control of Elections Constitution: Congress can fix time and place of congressional and presidential elections When is Election Day?

Federal Control of Elections “shall be the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even numbered years” Presidential same every 4 years

Federal Control of Elections Congress has intervened when it was necessary to ensure fairness and to improve the system

Federal Restrictions on the States Race ( ? Amendment) Men and Women ( ? ) No poll taxes ( ? ) Maximum age of 18 ( ? )

Federal Restrictions on the States Property? Hill v. Stone 1975 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause Cannot discriminate or draw unreasonable distinctions between persons So…for example…what about Felons???

State Restrictions on Felons Only Florida, Kentucky, and Virginia have lifetime bans 48 states prohibit current inmates from voting Only Vermont and Maine allow inmates to vote

OHIO’S Restrictions on Felons Ohio: parolees can vote Ohio: in jail on a felony: your voter registration is cancelled!

Ohio Voting Eligibility 18 by general election day (17 in primary) Must be registered Citizen of the U.S. Resident of Ohio for 30 days prior to election You are not incarcerated on a felony You have not been declared incompetent by probate court

How to Register in Ohio? BOE’s BMV Libraries High Schools Designated state and County Offices Many, many other locations CANNOT REGISTER ONLINE (changing soon! This summer?) Must be registered 30 days prior in OH

May a college student register and vote from his or her school address in Ohio? It depends. A college student may vote using his or her Ohio school residence address if the student does not intend to return to a different permanent address. When a college student registers to vote from his or her school address, the school residence is considered to be the place to which the student's habitation is fixed and to which, whenever the student is absent, the student intends to return, and is considered by the student to be his or her permanent residence at the time of voting. Any other previous residence for voting purposes is no longer valid. It is illegal for a person to register and vote from two different addresses.

State Responsibilities: Oversee the implementation by the 88 Counties in Ohio

State Responsibilities Two Types of Voting Machines MOST COMMONLY used today: #1 Direct Recording Electronic* (touchscreens) #2 Optical Scan (“scantron”)

State Responsibilities Old “punch card” system obsolete

Electronic Voting Machines FOR Against Easy to use No mistakes, less uncounted ballots Disabled persons Languages Main concern: hackers! Most lack a paper trail

State Responsibilities: Two Types of Ballots used

State Responsibilities: 146 Precincts in Greene Co. Fewer Polling Places Voting Precincts Map

BHS

County Implementation Poll Workers and Poll Watchers

Media, Pollsters & Campaigners Can you match the people with where they must be on election day? Media, Pollsters & Campaigners Anywhere (protected by 1st Amendment) Must stay 100 feet from entrance Can be anywhere but inside

Any registered voter can vote by mail Absentee Voting Any registered voter can vote by mail Deadlines Beyond that…a lot of different details such as time limits, etc.. If this is something you may do, check online for details

Any registered voter can vote early, in person @ BOE Early Voting Any registered voter can vote early, in person @ BOE This is a hot topic in Ohio right now; courts are involved Dems support Reps oppose

Can Vote in Primaries ONLY Must be 18 by general election day 17 year-olds in Ohio Can Vote in Primaries ONLY Must be 18 by general election day Candidates only No Issues

If there is a problem, it’s usually with your registration. PROVISIONAL BALLOTS If there is a problem, it’s usually with your registration. You can still vote, but your info is verified later and then the ballot is made official, or not.

Help America Vote Act 2002 Provide for Provisional voting….if one is challenged, they can still vote and counted once verified Replace lever-operated and punch cards by 2006 Better trained poll workers Computerize registration

Why would I be given a Provisional Ballot? Name not in Signature Book Lacks proper I.D. / Refuses to show I.D. Name Change, did not update voter reg. Moved from one precinct to another w/o updating voter registration Marked as an absentee, or early voter Voter Reg. Card returned as undeliverable You are being challenged

Voters who are blind, disabled, or illiterate Voter may have a person of their choice help them in the polling booth

“Curbside” Voting Those with disabilities can vote in their vehicles

Various other bits of info…. Write-ins – list of approved candidates Time Limits – 5 minutes (not strictly enforced)

Party Identification The ballot you choose in your primary election is your party of record.

YOUR Identification Ohio state law requires an acceptable identification Dems oppose Reps support Driver’s License, Military i.d., utility bill, bank statement, paycheck

Prohibited Identification Voter Reg. Card Out of state driver’s license Social Security Card Birth Certificate Insurance cards