Are Ohio Voters Jus' a Buncha Dumb Hayseeds?

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) July 4, 2008 -- The Ohio Election Justice Campaign announced today that its research revealed that no records from the destruction of the 2004 ballots had been submitted to the federal court with jurisdiction over the matter. (King Lincoln, et al. v. Blackwell, et al., Case 2:06-cv-00745, U.S. District Court, S.D. Ohio.)  

A recent review of court records revealed that the over 800 pages documenting the destruction of the ballots in violation of federal court order were not in the possession of the court.  

Over 56 of Ohio's 88 counties destroyed election records.  

On July 3, the following letter was sent in response to this startling discovery:  

Dear Secretary Brunner,

 I am writing to bring a serious issue to your attention.  

According to the Voting Rights Institute meeting minutes from August 21, 2007, your understanding was that every county sent an inventory and a letter of explanation to Columbus with the ballots and that "this information was all turned over to Judge Marbley. We have had no updates from his court as of today." Page 6, Voting Rights Institute, Advisory Council Meeting, August 21, 2007, Shaker Heights, Ohio. 

Our research has revealed that these records have not been filed with the Court, although almost a year has passed.  

In addition, 15 counties have yet to submit letters of explanation.  

Please bring this issue to the attention of your staff charged with this responsibility or to the Ohio Attorney General as soon as possible.  

I know that many members of Ohio's voting rights leadership, including representatives from the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, People for the American Way, and Citizens' Alliance for Secure Elections, as well as members of the group I direct, not to mention numerous election officials, serve on the Voting Rights Institute Advisory Council.  

They and many others were under the impression that the Court had possession of these critical documents and were waiting for the Court to do something.  

Are Ohio voters dumb hayseeds or have they trusted unwisely?  

Sincerely,

 Paddy Shaffer, Director

Ohio Election Justice Campaign 

The OEJC declares a renewed need for voter independence today, July 4, and in commemoration of this national holiday, and the republic and democracy it represents, calls upon all patriots to demand election justice in Ohio and across the nation. 

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