well, sometimes it is.
Yon posted this message on Friendster regarding the old Ohio, seemingly a key battleground state in this year’s election:
Republicans in Ohio are scared.
New Democratic voter registrations are up 250%
in Ohio. Democrats throughout the “Buckeye
State” are prepared to turn out in record numbers
to demand change on November 2nd in federal,
state and local elections.But first, Ohio Democrats need your help fighting
the latest dirty tricks by the Ohio Secretary of
State.With only 6 days left before the voter registration
deadline, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell is
trying to bar thousands of newly registered voters
from the polls.Stop him today and help protect democracy in
Ohio.
http://www.act04.org/paperstockCiting an arcane ruling requiring voter registration
cards be printed on 80 pound paper stock,
Blackwell is threatening to void registrations
submitted on any other paper, demanding these
registrants re-apply. But there is no time to
reapply which could leave thousands of new
voters off the rolls.Tens of thousands of Ohioans have registered
online or with registration forms printed in
newspapers, copied by friends, community
activists, and even state offices. These are valid
applications that must be processed immediately.Blackwell is also trying to impose strict rules on
provisional ballots. In 2000, nearly 23,000
provisional ballots were cast in Cuyahoga County
alone (the greater Cleveland area). Due to
congressional redistricting after the 2000 census
and the swell of first-time voters, confusion on
Election Day will run high. Provisional ballots must
be made available in accordance with the federal
Help America Vote Act.Sign the petition to stop Ken Blackwell’s latest
dirty tricks.
http://www.act04.org/paperstockIn 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the
Civil Rights Act granting every American citizen
the right to vote. Blackwell himself has been
quoted as saying “voting preserves the freedom
that we Americans cherish.”Don’t sit back and let Ken Blackwell take us back
to the days of selective voting rights. Sign the
petition today.In June, we warned Blackwell that we were
watching his close ties with Diebold, the leading
manufacturer of flawed electronic voting
machines. By July, with over 50,000 signatures on
our petition, the use of these machines had been
dramatically curtailed by local elections officials.This time the stakes are even higher.
With your help, ACT has been on the ground
fighting to register and mobilize voters throughout
Ohio. As we race to the finish line the Republicans
are running scared and resorting, yet again, to
dirty tricks.Don’t let Ken Blackwell become the Katherine
Harris of 2004. Join our fight in Ohio.Sign the petition and pass it on to your friends
today.
http://www.act04.org/paperstockWith great appreciation,
Steve Bouchard
State Director
ACT – OhioP.S. There are millions of Americans living
abroad who must have their voices heard in 2004.
Remind your friends and family abroad to register
for their absentee ballots before the deadline
passes.Send them this link today –
http://www.votingoverseas.org
This is my analysis:
The idea that the paper stock of a voter registration form could in any way be important to the qualification of a voter is ridiculous. This is a clearly a tactic to discourage voting. Certainly, in a battleground state like Ohio, there are partisan implications to the demographics of the rapid increase in the number of registered voters. The idea that partisan politics could undermine the most important foundation of our democracy, the right to vote, is terrible. The fact that more people are choosing to take part in the political process, Democrat or Republican is great. To discourage their involvement by focusing on a minor technicality is a blow to democracy and an insult to those who want to play a greater role in that Democracy.