Republicans Trying To Get Voters Personal Information

The Ohio Republican Party is once again trying to wreck this election and disgrace Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, and this time their dragging you into it too.

If you voted in Greene County last week, beware that the Republican Sheriff there is working in league with Mike DeWine's former law partner to get hold of you personal information so that they can challange your voting elegibility.

Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer, a Republican, requested registration cards and address change forms Thursday for all 302 people who took advantage of the window. He told elections officials he had been inundated with phone calls from people concerned about possible fraud.

Representing Fischer is County Prosecutor Stephen Haller, a former law partner of Mike DeWine. DeWine, a former U.S. senator, chairs the Ohio campaign of Republican presidential nominee John McCain. He grew up in Greene County, seated in Xenia, and formerly served as county prosecutor there.

Of course, a lot of information is already available publicly about who votes early (like their names and the address the ballot was sent to), but that apparently isn't good enough for the Republican partisans.

The Sheriff has apparently been demanding that the records be turned over with nothing blacked out, all on the basis of a few phone calls (read: no evidence). This means he wants names, telephone numbers, and social security numbers.

I've been hearing rumors that they might try something like this for a couple of days now, but it's finally happening.

I think we also need to stop and applaud Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. The Republicans have thrown up numerous road blocks to try and wreck this election in the form of massive unfunded mandates and unfounded legal challenges, yet Brunner has managed to keep Ohio on the road to a smooth and fair election.