Taft Signs Election Reform Measure
Posted on: Wednesday, 1 February 2006, 18:00 CST
By Laura A. Bischoff lbischoff@DaytonDailyNews.com
COLUMBUS -- Ohioans will be required to show identification to vote under a new law Gov. Bob Taft signed Tuesday, just hours after it cleared the General Assembly along partisan lines.
The state rushed to complete the bill because it needed some provisions in effect for the May primary to comply with federal law. Most of the bill, however -- including the voter ID and other aspects that most affect voters -- will take effect in June.
The new law:
- Requires voters to show ID such as a driver's license, pay stub, or utility bill at the polls. Those without ID can give the last four digits of their Social Security number or sign an affidavit, then cast a ballot to be counted later once eligibility is verified.
- Allows voters to vote absentee without giving a reason.
- Requires disabled voters unable to sign their name to give power of attorney to someone who will sign elections documents for them.
- Prohibits local elected officials and their subordinates from soliciting campaign contributions from employees.
When it comes to initiative and referendum campaigns, the law:
- Requires petition circulators be Ohio residents.
- Increases the signatures needed for a petition's initial verification to 1,000, up from 100.
- Increases penalties for petition circulators who commit election fraud.
- Requires each ballot issue to have its own signed petitions, instead of allowing voters to sign once to put multiple issues on the ballot.
The vote:
The House approved the bill 57-40, the Senate, 21-12. Only three Republicans -- state Reps. Jimmy Stewart of Athens and Scott Oelslager of Canton and state Sen. Tim Grendell of Chesterland -- voted no.
The rest of the Republicans in both chambers voted for it. All Democrats voted against it.
What they're saying:
- Republican lawmakers heralded the bill as a way to prevent fraud and fake registrations.
"The intent is to restore trust and confidence in our elections. The elections in 2000 and 2004 exposed serious flaws with our elections system that shook the confidence of the average voters," said state Rep. Kevin DeWine, RFairborn, the bill's sponsor.
- Democrats criticized the 400-page bill, saying any legislation sold as election reform but passed solely on partisan lines is suspect.
"It's smoke and mirrors," said state Rep. Steve Driehaus, D- Cincinnati.
Source: Dayton Daily News
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