Scioto County delivers voting guidelines

[theHandpuppet]

I think there are a lot of poor and elderly voters in Scioto County who will stay away from the polls because of these new voting rules, which was probably the intent. I still don't understand how you can be required to present I.D. if you're voting an absenteee ballot.


http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/articles/2006/10/21/news/local_news/1news_absentvote.txt

Absentee vote allowed, I.D. required
By FRANK LEWIS
PDT Staff Writer
Saturday, October 21, 2006 12:19 AM EDT


Any registered voter in Scioto County can cast an absentee ballot this year as part of a new law, Ohio House Bill 3. Voters are being reminded that whether they want to vote absentee now or wait until election day on Nov. 7, they will need to provide identification, another part of HB 3.

“When you vote absentee or on election day, you will need to bring your drivers license or state I.D.,” said Steve Mowery, chairman of the Scioto County Board of Elections. “If you don't have a drivers license or state I.D., you will need to bring a utility bill, or some other form of identification, and the address has to match your current address.”

(snipping)
So what happens if you go to vote and have no I.D.?

“You will have the option to go home and get your I.D. and come back and vote, or vote a provisional ballot,” Gearheart said.

A provisional ballot allows you to cast your vote, then you have 10 days after the election to come back with proof of identification, and your vote will be counted after the 10-day period.

(snipping)
If a voter casts a provisional ballot but doesn't bring in I.D., that vote will not count. Additionally, if an election is close and there is a large number of provisional ballots, a winner may not be declared until 11 to 15 days after the election, after the provisional votes are counted.

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Mowery expressed concerns about the new rules.

“I think it frightens voters. Some may be dissuaded from voting because they have this new requirement and the way it's worded,” said Mowery, who also is an attorney.

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