Congrats to all voters of Ohio for successfully pushing back against the GOP’s efforts to keep you from voting in next year’s Presidential election! It’s another win for democracy, and another loss for the Buckeye State’s Republican Gov. John Kasich (following on the recent landslide loss of his anti-union bill at the polls last month.)
Today, Secretary of State John Husted (R), officially certified that opponents of HB194 — the anti-voting bill that would have shortened early voting hours and imposed other big government restrictions on the exercise of the franchise in Ohio — were successful in their effort to place the law on the ballot for a voter referendum in 2012. Thus, the act, passed by the GOP legislature and signed by Kasich earlier this year, is officially suspended for now.
As we noted in September, after opponents of the bill had turned in more than 300,000 for certification to the Sec. of State, ThinkProgress’ Tonya Somander summarized the bill’s restrictions on voting this way:
According to Fair Elections Ohio’s announcement of the official signature certifications this afternoon, opponents of the voter suppression law gathered “307,358 valid signatures, over 75,000 more than were needed.”
“The voters are sending a message to the Ohio politicians and legislatures across the country, says FEO’s Greg Moore, “voting rights restrictions will not be tolerated by the people.”
The group’s press release, issued this afternoon, follows in full below…
For Immediate Release, 12/9/2011
Contact: fairelectionsohio@gmail.com
HB194 Repeal Certified for 2012 Ballot
Today it was announced that the repeal of HB194 will officially be on the November 2012 ballot. Secretary of State Jon Husted certified 307,358 valid signatures, over 75,000 more than were needed.
Members of the Fair Elections Ohio coalition celebrated the news. Former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner said, “Fair Elections Ohio is grateful to the diverse coalition of organizations and dedicated individuals who believe in and are willing to do the hard work to guarantee free and fair elections for all Ohioans. We will wage a robust campaign in 2012 that reflects that spirit.”
Fair Elections Ohio campaign manager Greg Moore added, “The voters are sending a message to the Ohio politicians and legislatures across the country – voting rights restrictions will not be tolerated by the people. We intend to prove that at the ballot box next fall.”
Fair Elections Ohio (FEO) is an Ohio state political action committee formed for the sole purpose of promoting a referendum on parts of Am. Sub. H.B. 194 that, if enacted, makes it harder for Ohioans to vote and to have their votes counted.
For more information visit our website at fairelectionsohio.com
One out of fifty ain’t bad or good. It is home plate. Got the whole season in front of us. Then the series. That’s moneyball.
If only WI voters had been given the same option before photo ID went into effect.
I filled out form for absentee ballot and allowed 3 weeks for them to mail it to me. The last day before I left for Fl my wife and I went to the county office and voted. They told me the mail was losing a lot of the ballots. Maybe so Maybe not
Great news that massive blocks of voters will not be disenfranchised for the presidential election in the key swing state of Ohio. The only down side is, when voters get to the polls, the two choices at the top of the ticket belong to the same party.
If only Ohio could come up with a referendum that could fix that problem.
Other than an editorial in the PD, I neither saw nor heard a word about this in the Cleveland area.
I think a new campaign for the voters in all 50 states ought to be: RECALL THEM ALL! The passel of lying, thieving varmints who’ve been ‘working for the people’ in government positions have obviously all been coopted. I’d rather have a bunch of kindergarten students run this country than those who are currently ‘serving’ in office. Serving is RIGHT! THEMSELVES!!
And now that Obummer is about to sign unlimited detainment into law, I wonder if those brilliant folks who put together this nightmare package have figured out that THEY are now targets. Isn’t it SOP with the CIA to kill those who cooperate with their shenanigans first?
That old chestnut has never been more valid:
First, they came for the Jews… And I did nothing…
Blah blah blah
And then they came for me, and there was no one left.
I have never been more afraid. Drones, crowd control devices that destroy hearing & mobility, detention centers, and the detainment & murder of American citizens AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS via drone, all are a REALITY.
How can we wake up the people around us?
We in danger, girls & boys!! We in DANGER!
Thank you Brad, for your incredible laser focus on these crucial issues. You really GET it!!
Segment on tonight’s PBS NewsHour,
How Will New Voter Registration Laws Affect 2012 Election?
Ineffective spokesperson didn’t help the cause any.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/...hts_12-14.html