States control most of election law and

procedure

Ohio Secretary of State

Jon Husted (R)

Nationwide: 500,000+office holders of over 90,000 positions!

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

15th, 19th, 24th, 26th Amendments

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

• Easy to use

• No mistakes, less uncounted ballots

• Disabled persons

• Languages

• Main concern: hackers!

• Most lack a paper trail

FOR Against

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 &

CampaignersA. Anywhere (protected by 1st Amendment)

B. Must stay 100 feet from entrance

C. Can be anywhere but inside

Can you match the people with where they must be on election day?

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

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

17 year-olds in Ohio

• Can Vote in Primaries ONLY

• Must be 18 by general election day

• Candidates only No Issues

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

• NOT ALLOWED TO HELP:

• Person’s employer or agent of their employer

• Agent of the voter’s union

• Any candidate whose name is on the ballot

“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