Confusion about Rules of the Game Threatens Democracy
Sadly, it appears that the widespread confusion in Ohio about who can vote early, when and how, may not be accidental.  It is certainly expected to impact voting in a partisan way and this should concern all of us, regardless of party. 

Our Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted has changed early voting days and times several times, as recently as two weeks ago when he added limited weekend early voting only after the Supreme Court ordered him to do so.  This and his efforts to extend times in Republican areas and limit them in Democratic areas required the court to intervene more than once to compel Husted to do his job.  

On a parallel track, we are seeing intense and penetrating mobilization by tea party supported True the Vote and their Ohio affiliate the Ohio Voter Integrity Project in what are clearly designed to intimidate and suppress voter turnout, particularly Democratic voter turnout.

These two powerful forces, combined with the widely debunked myth of voter fraud, have resulted in placing the rules of the game at center stage in this election, rather than strengthening these rules in a bipartisan fashion as the foundation stone that allows us to trust the process and accept that in a democracy sometimes the other side wins. 

This chaos and confusion is not random or accidental.  It is already doing harm to our trust in democracy and the rule of law.  For now, our most powerful individual response it to be sure to vote, then bring friends and families to vote.  Click for information on where and when and how to vote…in Ohio…or in Summit County. 

 

After voting, the next most powerful response is to pay attention to, and support efforts to expose and oppose, voter suppression.  Regardless of party or candidate, we should all be able to agree on the importance of protecting everyone's right to vote and an electoral process we can all trust...because sometimes the other side wins.