Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Why Don't You Want Homeless People to Vote?

New Secretary of State Voting Proposal Leaves Homeless Behind

The Secretary of State released her long awaited report on needed voting reforms. These were influenced by statewide meetings held back in December, but they seem to be more influenced by a possible run for U.S. Senate. It is unclear if the alleged "streamlining of identification" will homeless people. There would still be a requirement that an individual present either a picture identification or two other forms of identification. A homeless person may have a social security card, but the only other form of identification would be a library card. There are no details in the report to provide information about what would count as "other forms of identification." We need more details on this initiative.

Dear Secretary Brunner:

Why are you ending Golden Week? Why are you not providing free identification to homeless people so that they can vote? Why are you forcing voters to bring two forms of identification to the polling places? Why are you alienating homeless people?

Why are you proposing a shorting of the early voting time to 20 days which would eliminate the one week overlap when early voting begins and when the registration deadline ends. In the last election, we were able to help 500 very low income go to the polls to vote and register during the Golden Week. Providing 30 to 35 days to verify the registration of those new voters has to be enough time in this modern age of computers. Other states allow registration right up until election day, why do we have to be so old fashioned in Ohio? The Golden week was huge for homeless people. It is not difficult to verify a voter, so why not allow voting registration and voting 35 days before election day? If the goal is to get a maximum number of voters, why not make it easy to vote? Please keep the Golden week.

Brian Davis
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