The Ohio Secretary of State has a goal for 2012, to not be in the national spotlight. “That’s why you see us in early 2011 working through all the issues that we foresee on our doorstep in November of 2012,” said Jon Husted. “The last thing in the world that I ever want to be is the focus of any 2012 election.”
So Hosted is busy getting ready to institute changes that will likely come from two bills making their way through the state house and senate that will change the way people vote in Ohio. “For over 200 years, we voted on Tuesdays and now we’re trying to, over the last 10 years, perfect this early-voting process,” Husted said.
The bills call for changes in the length of time people currently have people have to vote early before an election, eliminating what’s been dubbed the “golden week,” where people could register and vote absentee at the same time.
“In Ohio, if this law passes, you’ll be able to vote 21 days in advance by mail, 16 days in advance in person, you’ll be able to request an absentee ballot on line and it’s still going to be very easy to vote in Ohio,” Husted said.
In addition, he said it will give voters the ability “to register on line and to request absentee ballots online which we think will make the process of preparing to vote much easier.”
Early voting has helped Cuyahoga County eliminate the long lines that became a lasting image of the 2004 presidential election. In some recent elections, more people have voted early than voted on Election Day.
Full Article: Ohio Secretary of State chats up possible voting changes.