Ohio Absentee Ballots Scanned Early

breitbart.com ^ | nov. 6, 2006 | breitbart

[blogblogginaway]

Cuyahoga County elections officials began scanning absentee ballots Monday with a judge's permission, despite a request by state officials that counties hold off until Election Day. About 70,000 ballots needed to be scanned in the county, the state's most populous, Cuyahoga elections director Michael Vu said. His office was determined to get through all of them Monday, even if it took until midnight.

Franklin County, which includes Columbus, also started scanning absentee ballots Monday, officials said.

Counties wanted to begin tabulating the ballots early because of the large volume turned in under a new state law liberalizing absentee voting.

The Ohio secretary of state's office initially directed counties not to scan absentee ballots before Tuesday, but Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Dan Gaul ruled Friday that all 88 counties could start Monday as long as security precautions were taken.

On Saturday, the secretary of state's office said counties must secure access to scanning locations, ensure that two bipartisan overseers control absentee ballots and that totals not be disclosed until the polls close on Tuesday. Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, the state's chief elections official, is the Republican candidate for governor.

[doodad]

My only concern is were those cross checked with registration rolls and were the rolls purged of ineligibles prior to the election?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Also this on Ohio.
http://www.dispatch.com/?story=dispatch/2006/11/05/20061105-A1-02.html

[Sybeck1]

Judges making laws it seems.

[Red Badger]

...so the Rats can see how many more votes they need in key districts...........This SMELLS BIGTIME!...........

[RoseofTexas]

"With more than a third of Ohioans ready to vote a straight Democratic ticket, Republicans could be headed for electoral disaster Tuesday unless their vaunted get-out-the-vote effort comes through."

I am saving this piece of TRASH so that I can post here on Wed and GLOAT!!

[JimRed]

So the RATS will know how many votes they have to create sooner in the recount process???

[I'm ALL Right!]

That or their lawyers have to figure out their arguement.

[jetson]

with all the so called voter machine problems they had in past elections I would think that state would be going strictly by the book. I am assuming this is to make sure they get all the black votes.

[Owen]

Our inherent conservatism tends to make us averse to this idea, but if you read it carefully there is nothing happening here that would not have happened a day or two later. It's just getting results faster.

[Doctor Raoul]

Fast enough to influence the election perhaps. That's the concern.

[doodad]

Wow that is one incredibly biased piece of writing by the editor, staff writer, and "DC correspondent."

[FlyVet]

On Saturday, the secretary of state's office said counties must secure access to scanning locations, ensure that two bipartisan overseers control absentee ballots and that totals not be disclosed until the polls close on Tuesday.

"Yeah, bipartisan. I am, trust me. That's the ticket. "

[dubie]

results of these early scans will only be "leaked" if it shows democrats ahead...