Kevin DeWine Screws Up Drafting Law, Then Blames Jennifer Brunner

I could post the YouTube of The Police's Every Breath You Take, but I think you all get the point by now.

When the Ohio GOP rushed through House Bill 3 literally in the dead of night so they could deny the vote to poor, elderly, and homeless people who don't have a permanent address, they screwed up in their haste to get the bill to Bob Taft's desk. This bill, literally written by Kevin DeWine, says that Ohioans can vote early or absentee beginning thirty-five days before the general election. However, they didn't change the voter registration deadline, which is still 30 days before election day. This has created a five-day window where Ohioans can register to vote and then vote on the same day, Sept 30th. to Oct 6th.

Now that the GOP realizes they screwed up when drafting this law, who are they blaming? You guessed it, their favorite political punching bag, Jennifer Brunner. Even I can smell the stink of this one all they way from Minnesota.

Brunner's statement on the matter today:

We must be sure that every qualified Ohioan has the chance to register and the choice to vote early or on Election Day.

The overlap between the end of voter registration and the beginning of absentee voting was created by the General Assembly, signed into law by a Republican governor, and has existed for all Ohio voters since the 2006 primary election. Those Ohioans who register to vote and request an absentee ballot during the 5-day overlap must abide by the same voter registration, absentee ballot and voter identification laws as any other Ohio voters.

To clarify some people's concerns, Secretary Brunner has issued a directive that will create consistent, statewide standards for this overlap.

To be clear, there is only one general election day. This year, that's November 4, 2008.

Anyone registered to vote by the October 6, 2008, deadline may request and submit an absentee ballot. That ballot is not permitted by law to be counted until the close of polls on Election Day, along with all other ballots.

Some are arguing for the first time that this is not the case. The law has not changed.

This unusual interpretation of Ohio law would inject chaos into our voting system, just as we are preparing for success with bipartisan elections officials across Ohio.

The Ohio GOP insists that the law says voters must be registered for 30 days before being allowed to vote, apparently forgetting that absentee votes, by law, are not counted until Election Day, giving boards of election ample time to verify registration information.

Why are they so perturbed? Politics, pure and simple. Nine states have Election Day Registration laws, and those states have seen a 10-12% jump in voter turnout, especially amongst 18-35 year olds. Since Obama is leading McCain by 22 points amongst 18-35 year olds, the Ohio GOP has a vested interest in making it as difficult as possible for these voters to be heard.

And so they go on and beat up on their favorite political punching bag, because of a law that they screwed up in drafting. Way to go, Kevin.