Collegiate Times

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner recently issued a directive that would help protect the vote of Ohio citizens against vote caging, a process by which a political operative challenges voters on Election Day, forcing them to provide different forms of documentation -- such as a driver's license or utility bill -- or cast a provisional ballot.

Voter caging is an issue because minorities and low-income groups are often without such documentation and thus more easily prevented from voting under this tactic.

Brunner's directive established the fact that a returned pre-election notice, sent by mail to all registered Ohio voters 60 days before the election, could not be the sole reason for purging a voter from the rolls.

Brunner criticized former Republican Gov. Bob Taft for passing an election law two years ago that "institutionalized" vote caging. The law implemented in 2006 required registered voters be sent non-forwardable, pre-election notices at least 60 days before the election.

Voters who did not return the letters or whose letters could not be delivered would be put on a list. Voters on this list, some voting rights groups fear, would be purged from election rolls by local officials.

Further, if the list fell into the hands of one political party or the other, the results could be disastrous.

"In theory, someone could obtain that list and use it to challenge voters," said Kevin Kidder, the media relations coordinator for Brunner's office. "We are looking out for the voters of Ohio," Kidder said. "(Brunner) issued a directive saying one, we need due process. And two, you can't be knocked off the rolls because of a return notice."

Brunner has also shown concern over the quality of state voting machines. She had commissioned a review of the Ohio electronic voting system called the Evaluation and Validation of Election-Related Equipment, Standards and Testing report.

EVEREST tested the electronic voting system on factors such as security, performance, configuration and control.

Brunner said the results of the test revealed a "need for a fundamental change in the structure of Ohio's election system." Her concern is that citizens should be assured that their votes would be kept safe, she said.

Testers found several indications of risks to the integrity of the election. Noted was a lack of the necessary precautions that would ensure the validity and security of the ballots.

Premier Elections Solutions is an election provider for the U.S. and Canada. PES manufactured the touch screen voting machines used in 43 of Ohio's 88 counties.

Kidder said there had been some bugs with the server software.

"Votes were being dropped," Kidder said. "But poll workers always caught it. Every vote was still counted."

Premier Elections Solutions has sued Brunner's office, and it countersued in turn.

"Litigation is ongoing between the Ohio Secretary of State's office and Premier," said Chris Riggall, communication manager for Premier Election Solutions, in a press release. He issued no further comment because of pending litigation.

Brunner had several recommendations that would help alleviate the security matter. These recommendations ranged from moving to central counting of ballots so as to eliminate points of entry in the voting system to requiring that all ballots be optical-scan ballots.

Tom Jensen, communication director for Public Policy Polling, said that Ohio could end up in either presidential candidate's electoral column.

The 2004 election ended with a close win for Republicans in Ohio. Republican candidate George W. Bush beat out Democratic candidate John Kerry by 2.11 percent of the vote.

"If (Barack Obama) can get his party lined up behind him he will probably win the state," Jensen said. "John McCain has zero margin of error there.  He will not be president without winning Ohio.  So I think it will be close right until election."