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Monday, October 02, 2006
Absentee in Ohio
I am sure that most people are aware of the controversy surrounding the new electronic Diebold voting machines, especially most Ohioans. I haven't had the (mis)fortune of using one of them new fangled electronic devices and am secretly looking forward to it, despite my utter abhorrence with the lack of standard credit card swipe/signature thingies procedures at most retail stores. Even the tens of reports I have read or heard about how unreliable and insecure those dang things are. My girlfriend was suggesting we go the absentee route this election. I think I am still going to go in person. I enjoy the process and it makes me feel like I am important.
For those of you who are worried that Diebold is in cahoots with a certain political party and your vote won't count because you are gay or a minority or enjoy public radio the Ohio Secretary of State website has some interesting information regarding absentee voting.
1. Absentee voting usually begins 35 days before an election. That means that we are actually pretty dang close to the elections being open. As in, you can start voting.
2. Any Ohio voter can vote using an absentee ballot WITHOUT stating a reason. You only have to be registered to vote and submit a written request for an absentee ballot. You don't even have to use the application.
You must include the following information:
- Your name;
- Your signature;
- The address at which you are registered to vote;
- Your date of birth;
- One of the following:
- Your Ohio driverÂs license number; or
- The last four digits of your Social Security number; or
- A copy of the your current and valid photo identification, military identification, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address. (Note: You cannot use as proof of identification a notice that the board of elections mailed to you.)
- A statement identifying the election for which you are requesting an absentee voterÂs ballot;
- A statement that you are a qualified elector;
- If the request is for a partisan primary election ballot, your political party affiliation; and
- If you want the ballots to be mailed, the address to which you want them mailed.
Somewhere on the Secretary of State website is a deadline. I haven't found it. I am sure they didn't mean to make it very hard to find. That would defeat the whole purpose, right? Sure.
For your absentee ballot to be counted, it must be received as follows: - If cast from anywhere in the United States, whether returned in person or by mail, your ballot must be received by your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
- If properly returned from out-of-country, your ballot must be received by your county board of elections not later than the 10th day after the election.
Here is an even easier to read list of how you can cast an absentee vote in Ohio.
This democracy we enjoy is a human right only as much as we uitilize it. To become complacent and docile in our visions is to cease our quest for creating something better then ourselves. We were given a voice and it is our duty as social creatures, as a collective society, to shape our world in a way that gives us a future.
Besides, it is a good excuse to take some paid time off of work.
# posted by Dru McKeown @
8:20 PM 
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