Reposting from last night due to the time sensitivity of the issue.
The Ohio GOP's voter-suppressing, recount-fubarring, and generally democracy-mangling election law, HB 3, passed both houses of the Ohio Legislature last year, but was delayed due to differences between the House and Senate versions over the issue of elected officials taking contributions from their employees. The bill was referred to conference committee to produce a compromise version, and it appears that the committee is getting ready to report a final bill. Ohio Common Cause says the final vote will happen sometime this month, these folks say the vote could happen this week, which means today or tomorrrow
Last month a lot of attention was focused on the bill, and rightly so. A student even staged a
hunger strike to protest the bill as it appeared headed for certain passage. A brief (and by no means complete)recap of the nasty effects HB 3 would have on elections in Ohio:
- HB 3's voter ID requirement would disenfranchise thousands of students, the homeless, and people who just move frequently.
- HB 3 would eliminate the random selection of hand-counted precincts in a recount.
- Perhaps the most misunderstood, and certainly the most underreported, provision of HB 3, would eliminate the right to challenge in court elections to the US House, the US Senate, and the Presidency. Challenges to these elections would be decided entirely by a majority vote in the Congress.
The word "eliminate" just above links to testimony by OSU election law expert Daniel Tokaji on the ending of federal contests:
"The other provision eliminates Ohio's contest for all federal elections, including both presidential and congressional contests. Sub HB 3 provides that such contests "shall be conducted with the applicable provisions of federal law."
It is not clear what law this is referring to, as there is no analogous federal statute providing for contests. Perhaps "federal law" refers to the timetable for electoral ballot counting. Yet federal law contains no contest provision, but instead requires Congress to defer to the states, in cases where there's been a "final determination" of any election contests or controversies by the safe harbor date."
If Paul Hackett or Sherrod Brown lose the Senate race this year amidst enough irregularities that they challenge the election, the adjudication of the challenge
would be left in the exclusive care of Hastert, DeLay, Frist, and McConnell. Got a chill yet?
So this thing has to be stopped. If you are from Ohio, bug the hell out of your state senator and state rep. Hell, bug them all. Contact info for state representatives can be found by zip code and district.
Find your senator by zip code. Another list of Senators here, bottom of the page.
If the worst should happen in the Legislature, Secretary of State candidate Jennifer Brunner is circulating a petition calling on Governor Taft to veto the bill. Click here to sign the petition.
Call TODAY! The conference committee could report at any time.