The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Easier, cheaper voting plan proposed

Former Butler County girl on Sports Illustrated cover
Updated 10 min. ago
Meeting to weigh Springboro schools health plan change rescheduled
Updated 24 min. ago
Cities declare snow emergencies; lull in snowfall expected at rush hour
Updated 27 min. ago
Psych evaluation ordered for teen accused of raping 64-year-old woman
2:26 p.m.
Rape investigation stalls at Miami
1:51 p.m.
> More headlines

By William Hershey, Staff Writer Updated 7:47 AM Wednesday, August 5, 2009

COLUMBUS — Steve Harsman, director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, is encouraged by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner’s comprehensive proposal to make voting easier and save money at the same time.

Among other things, it would permit counties to have up to four locations for early voting and it would move special elections to primary and general election days, saving an estimated $2.7 million to $5.4 million annually.

“I think it’s definitely an opportunity to streamline the process,” Harsman said Tuesday, Aug. 4. “I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”

Keir Holeman, Warren County Board of Elections director, echoed Harsman.

“I think a lot of this is definitely positive,” said Holeman.

Brunner and two fellow Democrats in the Ohio House, Dan Stewart and Tracy Maxwell Heard of Columbus, unveiled the plan, House Bill 260, on Tuesday and said they hope it can be approved in time for the 2010 elections.

While Democrats control the House, Republicans control the Senate where a proposal with some similar features, Senate Bill 8, already has been introduced.

Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, said he wants to examine the House plan closely.

“I would think if there’s an opportunity, we ought to try to get something done before the (2010) election,” said Harris.

Other highlights of Brunner’s proposal include:

• Starting in-person early voting 21 days before Election Day, ending at 5 p.m. on the Saturday before the election, giving Ohioans 19 days to vote early.

• Using vote-by-mail to fill vacancies such as those caused by the death of a U.S. House member.

• Requiring a voter to produce a current, valid photo ID or two current, valid documents with the voters’s name issued by a nonprofit, business or government entity in order to vote.

• Limiting reasons why voters are required to cast provision ballots.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

It would be easier if the Democrats had the polls to themselves and then no cheating would be necessary. Plus cheaper due to 1 easy to fill out ballot:

Mark here for all offices to be filled by Democrat XX

flipper
5:17 PM, 8/5/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Lets vote some of these bad cops out of the middletown police department they could really do good by voteing all the bad ones out some of them just think they can do as they please to people cause they are a cop its really sad and i know something can and must be done.

beck
12:19 PM, 8/5/2009

REPORT ABUSE

1)I know of honest citizens that early voted because they would be out of town on voting day - and surprise they were told to put their ID away, it wasn't needed (this was Greene County) don't tell me there wasn't fraud (read ACORN) involved. 2)We have always had absentee voting available, I believe we should continue the mail in absentee vote and vote in person on election day - that makes it harder to vote early - vote often.

concerned citizen
11:44 AM, 8/5/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Springfielder, if you read the article this was the bill being proposed by the House Dems and Brunner and refers to the fact the the Senate and Repubs proposed a bill but doesn't specify what is in the bill and that the Senate would review what the house has proposed. It does not state that all are in agreement.

concerned citizen
11:43 AM, 8/5/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I AM ALL FOR MAKING THINGS EASIER BUT VOTEING IS NOT ONE OF THEM. YOU EITHER WANT TO VOTE OR NOT. IF IT IS TO HARD TO VOTE FOR YOU "DON'T SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR A PRIVILEGE.

LARRY
11:26 AM, 8/5/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 8 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.