Few excuses left for not voting

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1:24 PM Monday, October 26, 2009

One of the most welcome changes in Ohio elections has been loosening of voting laws, enabling more voters to cast their ballots before Election Day. And if that results in more people participating in elections overall, we’re for it.

As staff writer Josh Sweigart reported this weekend, the Butler County Board of Elections on Oct. 23 had already received 4,266 ballots cast by absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 election. That’s about half of the 8,464 absentee ballots requested so far, Sweigart reported, and is on pace to surpass the 6,977 absentee ballots that were cast in the 2007 election, the last off-year election.

Before rules were relaxed in 2006, voters were required to meet one of several strict conditions in order to vote by absentee ballot, such as being at least 62 years old or anticipating being unable to vote in your assigned precinct on Election Day. Now voters do not need a reason to request an absentee ballot — and to avoid standing in line on Election Day — and plenty are taking advantage of the opportunity. Butler County Board of Elections officials say they’re still receiving about 300 requests for absentee ballots per day.

Among the factors that prompted the change were the long lines of voters in the 2004 presidential election. One Ohio county stayed open until 4 a.m. that year in order to accommodate all the voters waiting their turns.

We believe that Ohio and much of the nation have been moving in the right direction since the “motor voter” law of 1993, making voter registration easier and more accessible for Americans. Would-be or first-time voters can now register at a variety of accessible locations, including libraries and schools.

Of course, more absentee ballots and early voting mean that fewer people are waiting until Election Day to make up their minds about issues and candidates, a new fact of life with which candidates and political strategists must deal. “No question about it, it’s mandating ... that these campaigns have their mailers and their campaign literature into the hands of the registered voters earlier than ever before, otherwise they run the risk of missing out on thousands of early votes,” Tom Ellis, chairman of the county Board of Elections and the county Republican Party, told Sweigart.

This year, mailed applications for absentee ballots must be received at the board of elections by noon, Oct. 31, and they must be returned by Election Day, or postmarked Nov. 2. Please take advantage of an absentee ballot if you will be unable to visit your polling place next Tuesday, Nov. 3.

With all the changes to accommodate voters’ busy schedules, few excuses remain for not being registered and not participating in every election. Whether you show up next Tuesday at your assigned precinct or you cast your votes by absentee ballot, don’t ignore this important civic duty.

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