on voting day I will excercise my voting right and leave work early to vote (paid under ohio law) go to my voting place and show my ID (required in strongsville) and vote

(paid under ohio law)

What law is this?

@I.M. Wright: Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.06

But it's only for salaried employees, apparently. That's an interesting voting inequality, but a battle for another day I suppose.

http://www.findlaw.com/voting-rights-law.html

The statute does NOT say anything about pay.

So, just as I thought, no such law exists. James is mixing it up, once again. What he's getting is a benefit from his employer. It's not law he be paid.

Because many registered voters move and the ballot might not be forwarded to their current address.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but the last I knew, there would not be a statewide mailing of forms to request an absentee ballot. They have been changing everything so much since Husted took office that it's hard to keep up. But the limited hours, cutbacks on in-person early voting hours, and other tricks show that Husted is hardly the unbiased election official that we need. It looks more like he's trying to suppress the vote, if not as blatantly as others in his party. This is a national disgrace, and I hope the republicans pay dearly for it.

@John P.

What does a video on Mormonism possibly have to do with early voting. Please keep your discriminatory liberal rants to yourself.

why are you so against people having every chance to exercise their right to vote?

They don't receive a ballot. They receive a ballot application they can send back to request a ballot.

Mailing an application OR ballot to ANYONE who has not requested it, is still a waste of taxpayer dollars. If you want the form, request it. Why should the taxpayers be paying to have everyone be sent these? If voting is important to you, then just do it!! Quit making some big controversial issue out of nothing.

A lot people, rightly or wrongly, fear their vote will not be counted if they use the absentee ballot. I am not necessarily one of them, I'm just reporting what people have said to me.

I am sooooo glad! The most fundamental right we have - the right to vote - should NEVER be limited.

Adele...I believe you might remember me as Rob. I agree, and I would add a question to those posting here to support limiting the hours and days. If Republicans are so hot on choice for everything else (with the obvious exception of the crucial choices many pregnant women face), which are they trying to limit our choices on how and when we vote?

Well, I'm glad Husted finally made that clear. That was part of the deal he made last spring, but who knows whether his lips were moving. Excuse me for asking, but isn't the Sec. of State supposed to administer the vote...not make it harder?

Concurrently, the Ohio Attorney General was saying he would appeal this decision...another Republican statewide officer dedicated to making sure the "wrong" people have a harder time voting. Someone commented that these people got elected. What can I say? Mistakes happen.

Hello Ms. Kancelbaum, I trust every registered voter,– that is someone who carved out a few moments to register to vote, won’t fine the strain of returning their unsolicited vote by mail application in the affirmative to heavy of a burden to bear. I realize that some may feel put upon once they receive their ballots (without leaving their residence) by the effort and time they will have to devote to completing, sealing and mailing it back. Thankfully the voter will have hundreds of hours to of time to build their strength to complete the ballot.

If all else fails one could vote on Election Day.

Mr. Gibbons the request for ballot is not a little detail. It is important. Every registered Ohio voter will receive, unsolicited, a request to vote by mail. If they so choose, they will receive a vote by mail ballot. With me so far? Once the ballot arrives said voter will have hundreds of hours before the deadline to complete and mail back her ballot. How much more ballot access can one reasonably expect! By the way, there is that pesky first Tuesday in November voting day as well.

Most folks that self describe themselves as “non-partisan” are unfortunately just ignorant. Your post confirms that. Neither the governor or the State Treasurer have any legal say on the conduct of Ohio's elections. That responsibility falls to our Secretary of State. Ohioans by a majority vote elect our current Sec of State Husted. Of course voters make mistakes Senator Brown being the biggest one currently in office.

Lastly I appreciate your frustration with high fuel prices. It would be nice too have a president who shared your concern. In the meantime, as an “no partisan” voter can I count on you to support fracking and aggressive extraction of the huge natural resources know to be in Ohio?

Why do I feel like I already know the answer?

Mr. Gibbons the request for ballot is not a little detail. It is important. Every registered Ohio voter will receive, unsolicited, a request to vote by mail. If they so choose, they will receive a vote by mail ballot. With me so far? Once the ballot arrives said voter will have hundreds of hours before the deadline to complete and mail back her ballot. How much more ballot access can one reasonably expect! By the way, there is that pesky first Tuesday in November voting day as well.

Most folks that self describe themselves as “non-partisan” are unfortunately just ignorant. Your post confirms that. Neither the governor or the State Treasurer have any legal say on the conduct of Ohio's elections. That responsibility falls to our Secretary of State. Ohioans by a majority vote elect our current Sec of State Husted. Of course voters make mistakes Senator Brown being the biggest one currently in office.

Lastly I appreciate your frustration with high fuel prices. It would be nice too have a president who shared your concern. In the meantime, as an “no partisan” voter can I count on you to support fracking and aggressive extraction of the huge natural resources know to be in Ohio?

Why do I feel like I already know the answer????

This is Ohio, not Oregon.

So, your example is irrelevant.

I beg to differ your comment is not irrelevant, All possible options should be given. So being able to Vote by mail is a great way to reach out to those that work there ass off and cant take the time from work to vote. Mr. Wright you should change your name to I.M. Wrong!!!!

Sorry, my point was that voting by mail is not a BAD thing. That is all.

Please prove this.

Once again, Myron proving herself -- even more -- to be the right-wing ignorant that she is by pulling something out of her backside based on what she "saw."
Another great example of the prime demo that makes up today's Republican Party: morons.

Myron, judging by this story you might be on to something:

Democrat withdraws from 1st District congressional race after allegations she voted in two states

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-wendy-rosen-withdraws-20120910,0,3764352.story

Show me the proof that voter fraud is rampant.

The one percent (according to this poll) that don't vote probably give one of the following excuses: "I'm not interested in politics...I don't have time...I don't like who's running...I'm not registered."

Feel free to add in other excuses anyone else has heard or used.

Plus, I'm still kicking myself for missing the 2002 election.

What Brian says or thinks doesn't really matter. It appears his mind is closed to any factual evidence that would disprove his opinions, and his response is to flame anyone who he disagrees with. We live in a state where, thanks to a badly abused apportionment system, Republicans have held the majority of statewide offices (all of them right now) and held majorities in both houses of the legislature for about 100 years. They also hold all but one seat on the Ohio Supreme Court. They are living proof that one-party rule is a bad thing. They've managed to give themselves 12 safe congressional districts of the 16 in Ohio, which also carries their disproportional representation on to Washington. This is a state with roughly equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. Unfortunately, many of us are no longer represented in Congress or the statehouse by people whose values we share. Even if you agree with your own representative, when they are outnumbered to the extent mine is in the Ohio statehouse, what I want will never happen until we achieve a better balance. I can only hope that the citizen initiative to change the redistricting process gets passed.

Not every issue is racial

Absolutely right Glinda!

Ken, be prepared to be called a racist for that post.

There were long lines on past election days and some people, who had to go to work, had to leave those lines without voting. Also remember that a lot of poor people do not have cars in our car dependent society. So tack on several hours of commuting by bus to take the kids to day care and then go to work. And perhaps another bus to get to their polling place. That's why voting was extended.

What voting precinct is causing someone to travel several hours to go to vote, even if by bus? And IF they need to using the bus as you say in your example, then they are using it just as you say for their daily method of getting around town, also as they would for getting groceries and everything and everywhere else. So, it is just make the time for it. Why don't people make this a priority if it is important? Just an excuse to blame those bad Republicans. And, if they need someone to watch the kids on a Tuesday, they still need the same care for them on any other day if they don't want to take them with them.
But, the easiest way, is simply vote ABSENTEE - then there is no reason for anyone to feel put out. They can go about their daily lives doing whatever they please, without having to blame anyone for taking something away from them.
Hey, and guess what - I'm voting for some Republicans and Dems, so what does that make me?

Richard I agree 100%.

Tom and Richard-
I agree.

show me the proof of your accusations or shut up.

Ray - please provide proof that the Democrats are having illegal aliens with stolen credentials and dead people vote for them.

Where's the proof of these illegal aliens and dead people voting, Ray?

It's NOT voter suppression! Vote on voting day! How is that suppressing anything? Your comments make zero sense... Common or otherwise.

Ray it IS voter suppression if they only cut out the weekend in person voting in areas that are heavily Democrat yet leave it in place in the heavily Republican areas. Oh how you would be screaming if the Democrats were in control of Ohio's politics and made it harder for Republicans to vote.

@Bill.... Ummm nope sorry try again... And have another glass of liberal smear campaign Kool-aid ... I hear it's a very refreshing drink. I don't know if you realize this, or maybe your are actually Chinese and don't vote here, but in my universe ... Wherever you live, democrats and republicans, independents, and all others, vote in the SAME BUILDING! So what are you talking about? And we do it on VOTING DAY! Enjoy your drink.

@Ray: Reading comprehension is not one of your strong areas is it? This story IS about voter suppression. Scroll up to the top of the page and read it again, slowly. Now try and comprehend how the Federal Judge ruled it unconstitutional. Apparently the Federal Government feels as though that little piece of paper written by our founding fathers really means something. Every person is created equal. When your Republican Secretary Of State ruled that weekend voting could only be held in Republican areas it was against the law. That is why the Judge ruled that way and that is what this story is about. Apparently the kool-aid you are drinking is laced with LSD

Hmm glad you brought that up Duane! My wife works 12 hour shifts nights. My wife is also a democrat... Funny thing is she always was able to stay awake or leave for work early and VOTE on Voting day! Try again....

Yes you should MAN UP Duane! Because the people on the other shifts also vote just fine on Voting Day... That's DAY shift in case I have to spell it out for you! Again none of them have an issue getting to the poles... Sorry! Enjoy!

Very good Richard. Now look up how John Husted, according to those 2 laws was the tie breaking vote in those Boards of Elections where the 2 Democrat and 2 Republican board members could not agree on having weekend in person voting. Interestingly enough those boards were in Cuyahoga, Wood, Franklin, Summit, Stark and Montgomery Counties. All of which historically vote Democrat. Oh and his tie breaking vote? No weekend voting. So you can whine all you want, the Federal Judge sided with the U.S. Voting Rights act which expressly forbids this kind of suppression. Enough of this I have to get back to my job of going through the death rolls and registering as many dead people as I can to vote for Obama. Next up I will be scouring the Downtown streets looking for homeless people to get them registered Democrat.

Hey Tater: Look up when the Janesville plant closed. Obama was not even elected in the middle of 2008. Just another lie from the Republicans since that is all they have to run on. Lies, more lies and even more lies.

You've completely forgotten about the long lines in confusion in past presidential elections, haven't you?

So you have to stand in line. Too bad. Is it really that bad? You stand in line at Walmart. At the post office. To get your tickets to entertainment events. To get get your hot dog at the stadium. When it comes to voting, oh no - don't put me out!
If you don't like the lines, vote absentee.

You stand in line for hours to lose money at the casino. You stand in line to get on a ride at Cedar Point. You stand in line to use the bathroom at concerts.
So, stand in line to vote.

And...
You have to wait in a doctors office waiting room.
Hmmm,... I wonder if people have to wait at the unemployment, social services and welfare offices.
You have to wait in line at the bureau of motor vehicles.
You have to wait in line for communion before they haul you off by bus to blindly vote as they tell you to.

And we all have been told every year that we have to wait until next year for a winning team!

So, aren't we all use to waiting or standing in line?

If I leave a line at Walmart to got to work I am not disenfranchised. It's that simple, Lyn. And I do vote on Election Day, but that is because I can. I have never had to work 12 hours shifts and I've always had a car. I'm one of the lucky ones. Not everyone can say that.

People never complain about lines or waiting for other things. But voting - oh it must be the Republicans taking away something from them. So, if you still want to complain about having to go to the polls to vote on ANY day, vote ABSENTEE.

OK Richard. What is this story about? You know. The one at the top of the page. The one we are commentating about.

Certainly none of my statements were false.

I still think Tuesday is just fine - and vote absentee if Tuesday does not work for you. Plenty of people have jobs on the weekends also. Your comment reminds me of someone who once wrote the PD and said they think the Post Office should be open during the evenings and weekends because they had a 9 to 5 job. People are getting too demanding and lazy when fitting their "chores" and "errands" into their daily lives. If it is important enough for you to do, then you will do it.
I don't know why it has come to this, where some feel others need to be at their every beck and call.

lyn - true, tuesday plus absentee voting is sufficient. i'm simply pointing out that i believe weekend voting would be more convenient for more people than tuesday is. and it's not about me nor is it about people being at my beck and call; just saying that having one or two days that are most appropriate in modern-day life and not based on some outdated tradition makes a lot more sense than extending voting to FOUR days as we currently are.

in short, just because it works for you, doesn't mean it works for everyone. i'm not suggesting we make allowances for everyone and have an entire week of voting or anything; just that we re-examine why we vote when we do and perhaps change this if it makes sense to do so.

There will be problems with whatever day you select. As someone pointed out, Saturday is bad for those of the Jewish faith. The same will be true if you pick Sunday for many others. That leaves Monday through Friday. So, I'm for leaving well enough alone - or, I should say, dialing back 4 years. This new concept should never have been put in place. Too much manipulation and look what people are now doing. As I keep saying, if it is important for you to vote - you will do it.
Someone in one of these articles wrote about buses taking people from church and other places over to vote. That makes it sound like people are being round up to vote - but are these people going in knowing really what and who they are voting for, or "paying back" those who have corralled these puppets up so they can do their voting on their behalf? And, PLEASE don't throw that racist comment my way. I don't care what color the people are, just who is being used - and it can be poor white folks! None of these people are denied their voting on Tuesday or by absentee - so the politicians should quit playing around with all of this.

a valid point. still, tuesday just makes no sense any more.

i should note that i'm targeting election day proper with what i wrote above. obviously, if more states had legislation allowing them to vote during the weekend prior to election day, then needing to move election day itself would be unnecessary.

What citizen does not know when Election Day is?
There is no reason to EVER change it. Sorry if you are inconvenienced because you might want to go to happy hour or shopping or whatever, but just get off your backside and get there. NO ONE is stopping you from voting on THAT ONE day, especially when you are given the option to vote absentee.

lyn - you're just not getting it. sometimes life gets in the way of things you think are important, whether you like it to or not. it's not about laziness, it's about being flexible enough to allow everyone the opportunity to exercise their right. clearly, you can't understand why anyone would ever have a busy enough life to have an issue with tuesday AND absentee voting.

Joe, everyone is "busy." Some just have different priorities. If you made it a priority to vote on Election Day and planned around it, I am sure your world would not come to a screeching halt.

MZ - it has nothing to do with me. i don't see why it's so hard for people to imagine a life that cannot find time on a specific day but instead choose to live in a world where keeping your job or nursing your sick kid back to health is deemed as having your priorities out of whack.

it doesn't matter. i've made my viewpoints known. clearly nobody here agrees and that's fine.

Joe, your argument is only valid if the straw man you are referring to has no vacation days, and absolutely no help at all that they use on any other day of the year. If that isn't the case, than it absolutely has to do with priorities. Everybody knows when Election Day is. If they choose to take vacation days, or arrange for help on other days, so be it. That is their choice. If you extended the election to encompass the entire month of November, there would still be people saying it is inconvenient for them.

Regardless as I stated before, purge the polls of dead people, require a valid ID and proof of citizenship and make it the full month of November. Just make sure your vote counts once and only once, and that dead people, cartoon characters, etc… don’t dilute my vote and I am ok.

I'd like my dog to have a vote - that's my baby! She's not a drain on society and benefits by the decisions our government makes, because if I have more or less money by what the leaders deem I should contribute to take care of those less fortunate - but that includes some not willing to do for themselves that can.
I know that is a ridiculous proposition. But, to me, some of what you people put on the Patch is more outrageous.

Joe-
You said " clearly, you can't understand why anyone would ever have a busy enough life to have an issue with tuesday AND absentee voting." Then, if you are sooooo busy, going absentee is the easiest way to vote, even for the laziest of voters. This is such a nonissue. Only an issue for those who want to manipulate the voting system or just like to be confrontational.

Then vote ABSENTEE.

Isn't it amazing that this wasn't an issue until recently, yet many, many years ago there were not the number of cars that there are today. People relied on public transportation much more in the past than they do now, yet you are using that as a reason to have other days. Keep trying for a valid reason. But remember, we have ABSENTEE, so there is no excuse for being too busy, lack of transportation, long lines, or laziness.

Yep! As you said "ONE vote -- equal say -- equal access -- one time" - that being the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November - or ABSENTEE, and then no one has been denied. Then, no harm to any one - as you asked, "how is it harming you". BECAUSE it is costing the taxpayers unneeded taxdollars otherwise due to the laziness of others. And they are being lazy by demanding other voting times.
And I feel like I keep having to yell at my screen "don't you get it yet?"

America isn't a Democracy. Democracy is mob rule, just ask those Occupy folks. "THIS IS WHAT DEMCRACY LOOKS LIKE!"

Aren't the majority of people "working" at polling stations wearing little badges that read VOLUNTEER? As in: "not paid" (by taxes or any other funding).

majority are volunteer ....but who pays the paid staff (working overtime rate) at all these sites

Have you ever needed to ask those volunteers a question? Have you ever needed help with anything at your polling place? If so, you know those volunteers do help out, but do the most basic duties and other paid employees are also there and needed.

Richard - lyn could care less about anyone else. Her entire ethos is ME ME ME MINE MINE MINE!!!

Glinda-
Everyone has the ability to vote absentee. That is about everyone. Not you or me. Get over it.

No - not everyone is lazy. Just some of those who won't get off their butts and vote on THEE Election Day or else bother to get an ABSENTEE ballot, as you are doing. But look at everything else people will do with their time - and that includes lots of waiting in lines for other things.
So, people, maybe, get your priorities in order. If voting is important to you, you can EASILY do it because voting by ABSENTEE is always an option, and the easiest.
And this comment comes from someone who knows what they are talking about -and is almost always right! See, I did say ALMOST always - but in this case - I AM RIGHT!

Adele-
So, where I vote in Strongsville, our precinct ALWAYS has a MUCH longer line than ANY other in our ward. So, when I look at those other lines that are much shorter, and I am standing in the line that goes to the door, based on all you are saying, I should feel somehow discriminated against. And, all this time I thought it was just a problem that needed to be corrected.
And that poor acquaintance of mine who was at the polls the same time I was last year. She had recently moved and had been sent back and forth between her old and new polling places. WOW! We both thought they just didn't know where she was suppose to vote. But, once again, based on what you are saying, that upper middle class lady should now feel discriminated against, instead of feeling like they were wasting her time. But, she still voted!

Regarding this illogical debate created by a few, I have
No fears.
No hatred.
No racism.

I doubt you are sad - you are an angry, bitter person who appears to support any position that is ANTI-GOP. You are just as bad as those who said from Obama's beginning that they hope he fails.

What I am is intolerant of people like you who can't think for themselves, logically.

A lot of black people are suspicious of absentee ballots. They don't believe their vote will be counted.

Glinda-
I can understand people being suspicious about matters regarding this topic.
But, that is not tangible. Just as you have been asking posters to provide proof for what they say, you should disregard a gut feeling about something as opposed to reality. A gut feeling doesn't mean that an absentee vote will not be counted. The same accusation could be made about when you are done voting at the polls - where are they really putting my ballot, will they really count it? A suspicion is not a reason to disregard the fact that absentee voting is an easy, valid alternative. At some point you have to accept that the system will probably work as it is suppose to. To think differently is being paranoid and living a life where you think people are out to get you, or have an agenda bigger than you. Actually, we are all just little pawns in life and at the end of the day, the next person goes to bed without even giving you a second thought. But, I am not talking about real "causes", just what people say or think. They have more important things going on in their lives to worry about something petty. Like when someone gossips - it fills the void, but unless they are truly evil and out to do harm, they won't even be thinking about you 2 hours later. Some other topic will always take its place.
Just a little rambling....

Hay-
You put a link on there calling it an article, but it is from The New York Times OPINION PAGE:
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/edsall-the-ryan-sinkhole/
and, unless I read it twice too fast, this comment does not contain what you wrote. Is it from someone's comment on this guys opinion?
Anyway, I don't like a lot of what Ryan wants to do. But I do believe in 2 things-
Major NECESSARY cuts are needed
The wealthier should pay a little more in taxes - but not to the point of penalizing them for successes. There should be an increased tiered taxing level at beginning at $100,000 and revisit raising taxes on investment income at higher levels - higher levels because the little people also receive a break on some dividend income, and why not, since those distributions from companies are like profits that have already been taxed.

"Nurse Ratchet" has been posting this on other Patch networks (in Michigan, New York,...).
"Hay Farmer" also - but I think Patch managed to delete some of those.
Seems like these are coming from a group with an agenda rather than regular posters.

Anyway, I will not follow their links.
The actual OPINION did not really contain what they said and is here:
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/edsall-the-ryan-sinkhole/
It is a blog, as it says, OPINION - not an article as they want you to believe.

nAt old boy-
This article was also on theStrongsville Patch and all are free to comment.
But, from now on - when you see my name - just ignore my comments, seeing as you are incapable of caring about other opinions.
FYI - I have a couple of concerns wiht Romney/Ryan. But many more with Obama - with him, we have his record as a pres to come to our own conclusions.

joe that tells me that mitt knows how to run a company /country and budget his money >>>>> here is an example of how obama budgets his money http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/20/team-obama-spent-more-than-it-raised-in-july-falls-behind-romney-in-cash-on-hand/

JR-
If they are "secret" bank accounts, who told you?
If he put money someplace else, why?

I hate successful people! I want everyone on food stamps. Everyone should have equal outcomes managed by the federal government. It isn't fair that someone has more than me. Rich people didn't earn their money, they stole it from the poor.