Posted on 10/14/2004 11:37:57 AM PDT by 11th_VA
TOLEDO, Ohio -- In a victory for the Democrats, a federal judge ruled Thursday that Ohio voters who show up at the wrong polling place on Election Day can still cast ballots as long as they are in the county where they are registered.
U.S. District Judge James Carr blocked a directive from Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican, who recently announced that poll workers must send voters to their correct precinct.
The judge said that voters who show up at the wrong polling place after moving without notifying the elections board, and those whose names cannot be found on the registration rolls, should be able to cast provisional ballots there.
Denying any voter the right to a provisional vote will erode confidence in the election and lessen the incentive to vote, the judge said.
"Lessened participation at the polls diminishes the vitality of our democracy," Carr said.
The decision is a victory for the Ohio Democratic Party and a coalition of labor and voter rights group, which said Blackwell's order discriminates against the poor and minorities.
Yes, the 6th Circuit, right here in Cincinnati, which is short a bunch of judges thanks to Senator Carl Levin, who has blocked votes on any judges from Michigan.
The 6th is a crapshoot -- three judges will be selected, and some of them could sit on the 9th Circuit and fit right in.
Excellent observation. What is to stop someone from driving around all day to vote at every precinct in their county? Seriously, how did the judge miss this obvious gateway to voter fraud?
Hmmm, that's not good news. I'm not very familiar with the 6th Circuit, and was hoping it might be sane.
Looks as though we're going to need to supply everyone with walkie-talkies so we can alert all others in county as to who were given provisional ballots.
I assume the state will appeal this load of garbage. Again, the demoratic judicial system is not ruling based on law but on their desire to oust Bush at any cost.
Wow, what a simple plan. Too bad we're too smart to think of that. /sarcasm off
OK, I just read this quickly, but how is this a victory for Democrats? Am I to assume that Democrats are the only ones who show up at the wrong polling places?
While going to school in Ohio, I voted for everything and anything. When I moved from Cleveland to a suburb (Bedford), I put in a change of address. In return I got a card with precinct, legislative district numbers, etc., on it along with my polling place. The next election I went to the church specified as my polling place; I wasn't on the roll. The poll workers had me go across the street to the school - I wasn't on the roll there either. However, I was allowed to vote (perhaps only or since I had the card in my wallet from the elections office). Outside of that card, I did not have to show ID
Something similar happened when I returned to my home state in the Northwest. I was still allowed to vote and I did not have to show ID.
And by virtue of signing the card registration for voting privileges, one is stating that you are indeed a citizen of the U.S. which at least in Ohio and my home state, indicates my citizenship - my word.
He probably didn't miss it. He is a Democrat and probably wants the fraud to occur and never be uncovered. That's why this must be appealed if at all possible.
???? Is there anything to stop Democrats from voting at ALL the precincts in one country?
Of course not.
If you are too dumb to follow the rules and not know what is going on, you shouldn't be allowed to vote. Why do all Democrats want us to live in a lawless society?Because dumb people are an important part of their constituency.
-Eric
So, it all becomes perfectly clear - Bush's appointees were not denied a vote because of some phantom "litmus test" - they were denied a vote because there are vacancies and will create a nightmare on election day.
They've been planning this from the first day.
There is absolutely no excuse for this. I am registered to vote in the state of Ohio and it says right there on my voter card where my polling place is and it is not hard to get too--in fact it is a 1/4 mile from my house!
Supreme Court already ruled - state laws must be followed.
Supremes should reach down, grab this and kill it now.
Hey judge if I forget to send my Ohio taxes on April 15th, are you going to go easy on me too and shrug your shoulders and say, hey, as long as I pay it sometime.
Perhaps this will answer your question:
Carr, James G.
Born 1940 in Boston, MA
Federal Judicial Service:
U. S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
Nominated by William J. Clinton on January 27, 1994, to a seat vacated by Richard B. McQuade, Jr.; Confirmed by the Senate on May 6, 1994, and received commission on May 9, 1994.
Education:
Kenyon College, B.A., 1966
Harvard Law School, LL.B., 1969
Professional Career:
Private practice, Chicago, Illinois, 1966-1968
Staff attorney, Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation, Illinois, 1968-1970
Adjunct professor, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1969
Adjunct professor, Loyola University, Chicago, School of Law, 1970
Associate professor, University of Toledo College of Law, 1970-1979
Assistant prosecutor, Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, Ohio, 1972-1973
U.S. Magistrate, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 1979-1994
Race or Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Interesting link--apparently hispanics don't care for him much
http://home.earthlink.net/~dlaw70/carr.htm
Thanks for the research.
Is there time to appeal it and get a verdict and still impact the election??
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