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00:00:01>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
BROADCAST OF "THE STATE OF OHIO"
00:00:09COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF
PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS AND
00:00:10ARTHUR, LLP.
HELPING BUSINESS AND INDIVIDUAL
00:00:13WITH COMPLEX LEGAL PROBLEMS IN
OHIO, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND
00:00:15AROUND THE WORLD.
ON THE WEB AT PORTERWRIGHT.COM.
00:00:19AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
00:00:24120,000 MEMBERS, WHO WORK TO
INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS TO THINK
00:00:28CREATIVELY AND EXPERIENCE THE
JOY OF LEARNING.
00:00:32ONLINE AT OHEA.ORG.
KAREN: THE PLAN TO DEFUND
00:00:36PLANNED PARENTHOOD MOVES ON.
AND ELECTION YEARS OFTEN BRING
00:00:39CHANGES TO OHIO'S ELECTIONS
LAWS.
00:00:44A PROPOSAL TO ALLOW VOTERS TO
REGISTER ONLINE IS GENERATING
00:00:46SOME CONTROVERSY THAT'S
SURPRISED EVEN ITS SPONSOR.
00:00:47WE'LL HEAR FROM HIM AND FROM
ANOTHER ELECTION LAW EXPERT IN
00:00:48THE LEGISLATURE.
THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF
00:00:49OHIO."
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
00:00:58NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
00:00:59CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
VISIT NCICAP.ORG]
00:01:00KAREN: THE OHIO SENATE HAS VOTED
TO DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD,
00:01:07OF THE BILL WON'T GO TO THE
GOVERNOR JUST YET.
00:01:09THERE WERE TWO VERSIONS OF THE
BILL, AND THE SENATE CHOSE TO GO
00:01:11WITH THE HOUSE VERSION SPONSORED
BY REPUBLICAN MARGARET CONDITT
00:01:13OF HAMILTON AND DEMOCRAT BILL
PATMON OF CLEVELAND.
00:01:16THE BILL STRIPS $1.2 MILLION IN
STATE MONEY FROM PLANNED
00:01:20PARENTHOOD.
THE ORGANIZATION SAYS THAT MONEY
00:01:22IS NOT USED FOR ABORTION BUT FOR
CANCER SCREENINGS, HIV TESTS,
00:01:24AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
THE BILL WAS AMENDED, SO IT
00:01:26NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE
BEFORE GOV. KASICH SIGNS IT.
00:01:31WHICH HE HAS INDICATED HE WILL.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD HASN'T RULED
00:01:40OUT A LAWSUIT.
AN OHIO HOUSE TASK FORCE GOT
00:01:41DOWN TO WORK THIS WEEK ANALYZING
THE PROS AND CONS OF LEGALIZING
00:01:42MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
THE PANEL OF LAWMAKERS, LEADERS
00:01:48FROM HEALTH, LAW ENFORCEMENT,
AND BUSINESS INTERESTS, AND TWO
00:01:49KEY PLAYERS IN THE
INVESTOR-BACKED BALLOT ISSUE TO
00:01:50LEGALIZE POT IN OHIO MET FOR THE
FIRST TIME ON THURSDAY.
00:01:55THE GROUP HAS A DEADLINE OF
MARCH 31 TO ISSUE A REPORT.
00:01:57THE UNDERDOG DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE FOR US SENATE WHO'S
00:02:00MADE GUN LAWS THE CENTERPIECE OF
HIS CAMPAIGN SAYS HE WANTS A
00:02:02CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO
OVERTURN THE STATE LAW THAT
00:02:06OUTLAWED LOCAL GUN BANS.
CINCINNATI CITY COUNCILMAN PG
00:02:09SITTENFELD, WHO'S STILL TRYING
TO GET THE ENDORSED DEMOCRATIC
00:02:12CANDIDATE, FORMER GOV. TED
STRICKLAND, TO DEBATE HIM, SAID
00:02:16THE AMENDMENT WOULD REVERSE A
2006 STATE LAW THAT PRE-EMPTED
00:02:21LOCAL GUN LAWS, SUCH AS
CONCEALED-WEAPON OR
00:02:23ASSAULT-RIFLE BANS.
HE SAYS HE'LL WORK TO PUT THE
00:02:28AMENDMENT BEFORE VOTERS WHETHER
HE IS SUCCESSFUL IN THE MARCH
00:02:34PRIMARY OR NOT.
AND GOV. JOHN KASICH GOT AN
00:02:35OPENING HE AND MOST OF THE OTHER
CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE
00:02:37REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR
PRESIDENT HAVEN'T GOTTEN IN THIS
00:02:42ENTIRE CAMPAIGN - A DEBATE
WITHOUT DONALD TRUMP.
00:02:44THE LAST DEBATE BEFORE THE IOWA
CAUCUSES ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1.
00:02:48PUNDITS SAID KASICH DID WELL IN
A PERFORMANCE THAT SEEMED
00:02:51DESIGNED FOR AN AUDIENCE IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND NOT IOWA, WHERE
00:02:52THE DEBATE WAS HELD.
KASICH HAS DONE A LOT LESS
00:02:55CAMPAIGNING IN IOWA WHILE
FOCUSING EXTENSIVELY ON NEW
00:03:00HAMPSHIRE.
HE PLANS TO CAMPAIGN IN NEW
00:03:03HAMPSHIRE NEXT WEEK AS WELL.
KASICH HAS LANDED ENDORSEMENTS
00:03:06FROM "THE CONCORD MONITOR" AND
"THE BOSTON GLOBE," AND SOME
00:03:08POLLING HAS PLACED HIM SECOND
AMONG NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS
00:03:11BEHIND TRUMP.
OF COURSE, IT IS AN ELECTION
00:03:15YEAR, AND THAT OFTEN MEANS BIG
CHANGES IN OHIO'S ELECTION LAWS.
00:03:1610 YEARS AGO, LAWMAKERS APPROVED
MORE THAN A MONTH OF EARLY
00:03:19NO-FAULT ABSENTEE BALLOTING,
AFTER LONG LINES IN OHIO IN THE
00:03:242004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
STARTLED AND CONCERNED PEOPLE
00:03:26AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THERE WERE A FEW MINOR CHANGES
00:03:30IN THE FOLLOWING EIGHT YEARS.
BUT THEN LEGISLATORS PASSED A
00:03:33CONTROVERSIAL LAW SHORTENING THE
EARLY VOTING WINDOW TO 17 DAYS,
00:03:36BANNING IN-PERSON ABSENTEE
VOTING THE WEEKEND BEFORE THE
00:03:43ELECTION, AND RELIEVING POLL
WORKERS OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT
00:03:45TO HELP VOTERS FIND THEIR
CORRECT PRECINCT.
00:03:46THAT LAW WAS SET TO GO BEFORE
VOTERS ON THE SAME BALLOT AS THE
00:03:502012 PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST.
BUT LAWMAKERS REPEALED IT - THE
00:03:54FIRST TIME IN OHIO HISTORY THAT
LEGISLATORS TOOK BACK A LAW THAT
00:03:56WAS UP FOR A REFERENDUM.
AND THEN THERE WAS 2014.
00:04:02STATE LAWMAKERS VOTED TO CLOSE
THE SO-CALLED "GOLDEN WINDOW,"
00:04:08IN WHICH VOTERS COULD REGISTER
AND VOTE ON THE SAME DAY, AND
00:04:12SHORTENED EARLY VOTING TO 28
DAYS, WHICH BROUGHT LAWSUITS.
00:04:14THERE WAS THE LAW ALLOWING THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TO MAIL
00:04:15ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO
ALL REGISTERED VOTERS IN EVEN
00:04:21NUMBERED YEARS WHETHER THEY'VE
ASKED FOR THOSE APPLICATIONS OR
00:04:25NOT.
AND THERE WAS THE LAW THAT WAS
00:04:27DESCRIBED AS DEALING WITH THE
"RIGHT CHURCH, WRONG PEW"
00:04:36CONCEPT, REQUIRING PROVISIONAL
BALLOTS CAST IN THE WRONG
00:04:37PRECINCT BE COUNTED.
BUT CRITICS SAID INCREASED
00:04:50REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVISIONAL
BALLOTS WOULD MEAN MORE OF THEM
00:04:52WOULD BE THROWN OUT.
THIS BIG ELECTION YEAR PROJECT
00:04:53APPEARS TO BE ONLINE VOTER
REGISTRATION.
00:04:5429 STATES ALLOW FOR THAT, AND
OHIO ALREADY PERMITS VOTERS TO
00:04:55CHANGE THEIR ADDRESSES ONLINE,
SO FOR MANY THIS IS THE NEXT
00:04:57NATURAL STEP.
A BILL TO PUT ONLINE VOTER
00:04:58REGISTRATION IN PLACE HAS PASSED
THE SENATE AND IS WAITING IN A
00:04:59HOUSE COMMITTEE.
TO TALK ABOUT ONLINE VOTER
00:05:00REGISTRATION AND OTHER POSSIBLE
CHANGES COMING BEFORE THIS
00:05:02FALL'S BIG VOTE, I'M PLEASED TO
WELCOME TWO LAWMAKERS FROM TWO
00:05:03PARTIES FROM TWO CHAMBERS.
SEN. FRANK LAROSE IS A
00:05:04REPUBLICAN FROM COPLEY TOWNSHIP
NEAR AKRON.
00:05:06HE'S THE SPONSOR OF THE ONLINE
VOTER REGISTRATION BILL THAT
00:05:08PASSED THE SENATE WITH ONLY ONE
"NO" VOTE.
00:05:11REP. KATHLEEN CLYDE IS A
DEMOCRAT FROM KENT.
00:05:14SHE'S SPONSORED SIX ELECTION-LAW
AND VOTER-RELATED BILLS,
00:05:21INCLUDING HER OWN ONLINE VOTER
REGISTRATION MEASURE.
00:05:25SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
00:05:26I APPRECIATE IT.
LET ME START BY ASKING, WHAT IS
00:05:29THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO
BILLS YOU FOLKS OF SPONSOR,
00:05:33OTHER THAN YOURS HAS PASSED THE
SENATE AND YOURS IS NOT PASSED
00:05:37THE HOUSE?
MY BILL --
00:05:41REP. CLYDE: MY BILL IS
AUTOMATICALLY REGISTRATION.
00:05:45THE NEW TREND IN VOTER
REGISTRATION THAT STATES ARE
00:05:48STARTING TO ADOPT, YOU ARE
AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED, WHEN
00:05:53YOU GO TO THE DMV, WHEN YOU TURN
18, WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH
00:05:59DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
I THINK ONLINE REGISTRATION IS
00:06:04IMPORTANT AND I THINK WE CAN GO
A FEW STEPS FURTHER AND JOIN THE
00:06:06TREND OF STATES THAT ARE MAKING
REGISTERING EASIER.
00:06:12SEN. LAROSE: WITH MY BILL, OHIO
JOINS THE MAJORITY OF OTHER
00:06:14STATES THAT DO ONLINE VOTER
REGISTRATION.
00:06:18IT IS A SECURE PROCESS, MORE
CONVENIENT, MORE EFFICIENT THAN
00:06:25DOING IT WITH THE PAPER FORMAT,
BUT MY BILL DOES NOT DO AWAY
00:06:31WITH THE PAPER.
IF YOU WANT TO FILL OUT THE FORM
00:06:32AND MAIL IT TO BOARD OF
ELECTIONS COME YOU CAN DO THAT.
00:06:33BUT THIS TAKES THE NEXT STEP IN
MODERNIZING THE PROCESS.
00:06:37KAREN: THERE HAS BEEN PUSHED BY
FROM THE CHRISTIAN COALITION AND
00:06:41TEA PARTY GROUPS WHO SAY THERE
NEED TO BE MORE SAFEGUARDS IN
00:06:44PLACE.
THEY WANT TO SEE EVEN PHOTO ID
00:06:48OR OTHER THINGS.
THEY WANT THE BRAKES PUT ON THIS
00:06:50AND FOR THIS TO NOT BE IN PLACE
BY NOVEMBER.
00:06:54WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?
SEN. LAROSE: FIRST OF ALL, THAT
00:06:57WAS SOMEWHAT SURPRISING, BECAUSE
I WONDER WHERE THEY WERE THREE
00:07:00YEARS AGO WHEN I INTRODUCED THE
BILL, WHERE THEY WERE ALMOST
00:07:06YEAR AGO WHEN WE INTRODUCED IT
IN THE SENATE AND PASSED IT LAST
00:07:07SUMMER WITH AN OVERWHELMING
PARTISAN MAJORITY.
00:07:08FOR THEM TO POP UP IN THE FINAL
WEEKS OF CONSIDERATION IN THE
00:07:13HOUSE WAS A LITTLE BIT
CONCERNING.
00:07:16MOST OF THE CONCERNS COME ALL OF
THE CONCERNS THAT THEY RAISED,
00:07:17ARE ADDRESSED IF YOU SILLY LOOK
AT THE BILL.
00:07:21THE BILL IS MORE SECURE THAN THE
PAPER FORMAT AND PROVIDES AN
00:07:26ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF SCRUTINY TO
THESE APPLICATIONS THAT DON'T
00:07:32EXIST WITH PAPER.
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
00:07:33INTEGRITY OF OUR PROCESS, YOU
SHOULD BE A BIG SUPPORTER OF
00:07:36ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION.
KAREN: POINT SECRETARY OF STATE
00:07:38JOHN HUGHES 00 -- JON
HUSTED CAME TO COMMITTEE AND
00:07:49ASKED ABOUT THE BILL, YOU SAID
YOU THOUGHT IT COULD BE A
00:07:51LIMITED IMMEDIATELY.
HE SAYS YOU ARE WRONG.
00:07:52WHO IS RIGHT?
REP. CLYDE: WELL, MY POSITION IS
00:07:57WE DON'T NEED A LEGISLATION TO
IMPLEMENT ONLINE VOTER
00:07:59REGISTRATION.
I CERTAINLY SUPPORT LEGISLATION
00:08:03TO CODIFY IT.
BUT IF THE HOUSE DOESN'T MOVE
00:08:08THIS, I BELIEVE THAT JON HUSTED
COULD SWITCH IT ON AND IMPLEMENT
00:08:15ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION TODAY.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE SYSTEM IS
00:08:21ALREADY BUILT A SYSTEM THAT
ALLOWS ONLINE ADDRESS CHANGES
00:08:24THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A
FEW YEARS NOW, AND USED BY
00:08:30HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OHIO
ANS, COULD BE SWITCHED ON TO
00:08:35OPEN UP VOTER REGISTRATION AS
WELL.
00:08:36I HOPE WE PASS IT.
IF WE DON'T, WE HAVE ANOTHER
00:08:43OPTION AND LET'S SWITCH IT ON.
KAREN: SENATOR LAROSE COMMENTS
00:08:45THE SECOND TIME YOU HAVE
PROPOSED ONLINE VOTER
00:08:47REGISTRATION.
I GUESS TO REPRESENTATIVE
00:08:49CLYDE'S CONCERNS, CAN THE STATES
WHICH ARE ON, OR DOES THE STATE
00:08:53NEED A LAWMAKER APPROVAL TO DO
THAT?
00:08:54SEN. LAROSE: I NEED WE -- I
BELIEVE WE NEED TO PASS THIS TO
00:09:02CODIFY THE IDEA.
SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE
00:09:05UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF THE NEXT
SECRETARY UNDO IT.
00:09:08WE NEED TO
ESTABLISH IT IN LAW.
00:09:12THE AUGMENT THAT SECRETARY
HUSTED MAKES IS THAT THE SYSTEM
00:09:18NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN LAW
-- TO SECURITY, THE COMPONENT
00:09:23THAT FOLKS EVIDENTLY ARE
OVERLOOKING THAT CAME IN TO
00:09:26OPPOSE THE BILL, THE BACKBONE OF
THAT SECURITY PART OF ONLINE
00:09:29VOTER REGISTRATION IS A LINK
WITH THE DATABASE.
00:09:31THE OHIO DATABASE IS FOR
EVERYBODY WHO HAS A STATE
00:09:39DRIVER'S LICENSE OR STATE ID,
AND IN ORDER TO USE ONLINE VOTER
00:09:40REGISTRATION, YOUR INFORMATION
HAS TO MATCH, AND THE SIGNATURE
00:09:43HAS TO COME OVER FROM THE DMV TO
THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
00:09:45IMAGINE A TINY JPEG, A TINY
PHOTO OF YOUR SIGNATURE.
00:09:51THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE NEEDS TO
GET THAT TRANSFERRED FROM THE
00:09:56DMV TO THEM TO HAVE YOUR
SIGNATURE ON FILE FOR THE
00:09:57PURPOSE OF WHEN YOU SIGNED A
PETITION OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
00:09:59LET THE SECRETARY SAYS RAY KNOWS
THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
00:10:05TRANSFER THOSE SIGNATURES
WITHOUT LAW.
00:10:09THIS WOULD SET THAT UP AND PUT
IT IN PLACE.
00:10:10KAREN: LET ME ASK YOU,
REPRESENTATIVE CLYDE, THE
00:10:16QUESTION ABOUT PURGING VOTERS
FROM THIS IS ADDRESSED IN YOUR
00:10:19BILL, SENATOR LAROSE, BUT LET ME
ASK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE KAI, YOU
00:10:22HAVE SAID THAT OHIO HAS PERCHED
2 MILLION VOTERS FROM THE
00:10:26ROLLS.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH TAKING PEOPLE
00:10:31OFF THE ROLLS WHO HAVE MOVED OUT
OF STATE, WHO ARE DEAD?
00:10:35REP. CLYDE: YOU ADDRESSED THE 2
I THINK ARE OK TO PURGE FROM THE
00:10:45ROLLS.
OF COURSE WE DON'T WANT DEAD
00:10:47VOTERS ON THE ROLLS, AND PEOPLE
WHO MOVED OUT OF STATE,
00:10:50HOPEFULLY THEY ARE REGISTERED IN
THE NEW STATE COULD
00:10:53UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
SECRETARY HUSTED DO VERY
00:10:55AGGRESSIVELY IS PURGE PEOPLE FOR
REASON HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO
00:11:00UNDER FEDERAL LAW, AND THAT IS
FOR NOT VOTING OFTEN ENOUGH.
00:11:01WE HAD A BIG SURGE IN VOTERS IN
2008 AND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE
00:11:08DO NOT COME BACK TO THE VOTING
PROCESS, BUT INSTEAD OF
00:11:11CANCELING THEIR VOTER
REGISTRATION, WHICH WE ARE
00:11:13SEEING HUSTED DO IN RECORD
NUMBERS, THERE IS NO REASON TO
00:11:16DO THAT.
THEY ARE STILL HERE IN OHIO,
00:11:22THEIR RIGHTS ARE STILL
IMPORTANT.
00:11:23WE SHOULD LET EVERY ELIGIBLE
OHIOAN BE REGISTERED AND
00:11:30ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE.
KAREN: I THINK THERE IS A
00:11:34CONCERN, SENATOR LAROSE, ABOUT
PURGING AND HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT
00:11:35MINORITY VOTERS WHO HAVE NOT
COME OUT TO VOTE AS OFTEN AS
00:11:37VOTERS IN OTHER GROUPS.
HOW DOES YOUR BILL ADDRESS THAT
00:11:41AND WHAT DO YOU DO SPECIFICALLY
CANNOT DISENFRANCHISE MINORITY
00:11:43VOTERS?
SEN. LAROSE: OF COURSE, WE WANT
00:11:46ALL OHIOANS TO VOTE REGARDLESS
OF THEIR ETHNIC BACKGROUND AND
00:11:52SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS AND THAT
KIND OF THING, AND WE WANT
00:11:54GREATER VOTER PARTICIPATION.
THAT IS MY ONLINE VOTER
00:11:57REGISTRATION IS SO IMPORTANT.
IT IS THE FIRST STEP.
00:11:59VOTING IS A TWO-STEP PROCESS.
YOU HAVE GOT A BE REGISTERED AND
00:12:04THEN YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP AND
VOTE.
00:12:05OHIO IS ONE OF THE STATES WHERE
IT IS VERY CONVENIENT TO VOTE.
00:12:08WE 28 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING BY
MAIL, WHICH YOU CAN DO IN THE
00:12:12STATE OF OHIO.
YOU CAN SHOW UP AND VOTE EARLY
00:12:16AND IN PERSON AND IF YOU ARE
TRADITIONALIST, YOU CAN VOTE ON
00:12:18ELECTION DAY.
MAKING REGISTRATION MORE
00:12:21CONVENIENT IS WHAT THIS BILL IS
ALL ABOUT.
00:12:24NOT ONLY IS IT OR CONVENIENT,
BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, IT IS MORE
00:12:27SECURE AND IT SAVES MONEY FOR
OUR ADMINISTRATORS.
00:12:32KAREN: WHAT DO YOU SPECIFICALLY
DO ON PURGES?
00:12:36WHAT DOES IT DO ABOUT GETTING
RID OF VOTERS WHO ARE DECEASED,
00:12:42WHO HAVE MOVED ON, OR WHO HAVE
NOT VOTED OFTEN ENOUGH?
00:12:43SEN. LAROSE: THIS BILL DOES NOT
IMPACT THAT.
00:12:49WE WORKED ON THIS YEARS AGO IN A
DATA MANAGEMENT BILL IN A STATE
00:12:53SYSTEM WHERE A STATE CAN VERIFY
THEIR VOTER ROLLS AGAINST
00:12:57ANOTHER.
THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE IS THE
00:12:58OHIOAN WHO MAY UNFORTUNATELY
DECIDE TO MOVE TO THAT STATE
00:13:04DOWN SOUTH, THE SUNSHINE STATE.
HOPEFULLY WE GET THEM BACK, BUT
00:13:07IF THEY DO MOVE, THEIR
REGISTRATION WITH A REGISTER IN
00:13:11FLORIDA NEEDS TO CANCEL THEIR
REGISTRATION IN OHIO, AND THE
00:13:17MULTISTATE COLLABORATIVE ALLOWS
THAT TO HAPPEN.
00:13:18THAT WAS UNTIL WE WERE GOT A
COUPLE YEARS AGO, AS THOSE
00:13:21PROCEDURES AND POLICIES TO PUT
IN PLACE THE CORRECT WAY TO GET
00:13:26PEOPLE OUT OF THE ROLLS IF THEY
ARE DECEASED.
00:13:28KAREN: REPRESENTATIVE CLYDE, ARE
YOU SATISFIED THAT SENATOR
00:13:42LAROSE'S BILL DEALS WITH THE
00:13:43PURGE ISSUE?
REP. CLYDE: I AGREE THAT IT
00:13:49ISN'T RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE I'VE BEEN HAS CONCERNED
00:13:51ABOUT.
I HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE BILL.
00:13:53IT REQUIRES A PHOTO ID TO ACCESS
THE ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION
00:13:56SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT POOR VOTERS
00:14:02OR ELDERLY VOTERS OR STUDENT
VOTERS, THEY DON'T HAVE AN OHIO
00:14:06DRIVER'S LICENSE OR PHOTO ID
CARD, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO
00:14:09PARTICIPATE.
WE'VE SEEN THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN
00:14:13VOTERS, AND SAY, HEY, YOU DON'T
NEED TO HAVE AN ID REQUIREMENT
00:14:15TO HAVE A SECURE SYSTEM.
THAT IS ONE THING WE CAN
00:14:19CONSIDER TO APPROVE THE BILL OR
TWO IMPROVE IT IN THE FUTURE.
00:14:20I DID NOT SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION THAT SENATOR LAROSE
00:14:25SPEAKS OF A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
I THINK THAT ACTUALLY MADE THE
00:14:28PURGING PROCESS EASIER AND MY
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES AND I
00:14:35SPOKE OUT PRETTY STRONGLY
AGAINST THAT BILL AND MAKING
00:14:37PURGING AND CANCELING
REGISTRATION EASIER IN OHIO.
00:14:41KAREN: THAT BRINGS UP THE
QUESTION OF PHOTO ID.
00:14:47ARE YOU IN FAVOR, SENATOR
LAROSE, OF PHOTO ID?
00:14:48SEN. LAROSE: NO, I'M NOT IN
FAVOR OF THE MANDATORY PHOTO ID
00:14:54FOR VOTING, SINGLY BECAUSE AS
THE REPRESENTATIVE AND I HAVE
00:14:58DISCUSSED FROM THERE ARE TENS OF
THOUSANDS AND MAYBE A LARGER
00:15:00NUMBER OF OHIOANS WHO ARE LEGAL
CITIZENS OF OUR STATE BUT DO NOT
00:15:07HAVE A VALID STATE ID OR DRIVERS
LICENSE.
00:15:08FOR ME VOTING IS SACRED AND THAT
SOMETHING YOU CAN TRIFLE WITH,
00:15:15SOMEONE'S RIGHT TO VOTE. -- NOT
SOMETHING YOU CAN TRIFLE WITH,
00:15:20SOMEONE'S RIGHT TO VOTE.
I WOULD SUPPORT A MANDATORY ID
00:15:24BILL IF IT CAME WITH FUNDS TO
MAKE SURE EVERY OHIOAN WHO
00:15:28WANTED ONE WAS ABLE TO GET A
STATE ID FOR FREE AND
00:15:29CONVENIENTLY.
I HAVE NOT SEEN A PROPOSAL THAT
00:15:34HAD THAT KIND OF MECHANISM IN
PLACE.
00:15:35IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE
00:15:39MISREPRESENTING THEIR IDENTITY
IF THEY COME TO VOTE, WE NEED TO
00:15:42DO A BETTER JOB OF ENFORCING
IDENTITY REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE
00:15:44RIGHT NOW IN OHIO AND THEY ARE
PRETTY GOOD WITH PIT YOU HAVE A
00:15:46MILITARY ID -- THEY ARE PRETTY
GOOD ONES SHOULD YOU HAVE A
00:15:52MILITARY ID, STATE
IDENTIFICATION, A GOVERNMENT
00:15:55DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS YOUR NAME
AND ID.
00:15:56IF OUR POLL WORKERS ARE
UNIVERSALLY ENFORCING THOSE
00:15:58RULES, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO
DO IT A GOOD JOB NOT
00:16:02MISREPRESENTING.
KAREN: BUT THE BILL YOU ARE
00:16:08SPONSORING WOULD REQUIRE SOMEONE
TO HAVE A PHOTO ID?
00:16:10SEN. LAROSE: IN ORDER TO
REGISTER THROUGH THE ONLINE
00:16:14REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
VAST MAJORITY OF STATES THAT DO
00:16:19ONLINE REGISTRATION INCLUDE THIS
COMPONENT AND IT IS RECOGNIZED
00:16:22AS THE BEST PRACTICE AMONG
STATES, ALTHOUGH AS THE
00:16:23REPRESENTATIVE POINTED OUT, SOME
STATES HAVE GONE BEYOND THAT AND
00:16:27ALLOW REGISTRATION WITHOUT ID.
IN MY BILL, IF YOU WANT TO
00:16:34REGISTER ONLINE, YOU HAVE TO USE
YOUR STATE DRIVER'S LICENSE OR
00:16:36STATE ID SO YOU CAN GET A
SIGNATURE FROM THE DMV DATABASE.
00:16:39THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.
WHAT THEY HAVE THAT IN FLORIDA,
00:16:42AND I THINK THIS IS A SMART
IDEA, AND IT CAN BE DONE THE WAY
00:16:47TO SECRETARY SETS UP HIS OR HER
WEBSITE FOR ONLINE VOTER
00:16:49REGISTRATION -- IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA, AND I WAS TALKING WITH
00:16:54THE FLORIDA ELECTIONS
ADMINISTRATOR LAST WEEK IN A
00:16:56CONFERENCE IN D.C. ABOUT THIS,
AND THEY HAVE NOT GONE LIVE WITH
00:17:00IT YET BUT THEY ARE ABOUT TO --
IF YOU GO TO THE FLORIDA
00:17:03SECRETARY OF STATE WEBSITE AND
YOU WANT TO REGISTER TO VOTE, IF
00:17:06YOU START TO GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS AND YOU DON'T HAVE A
00:17:08FLORIDA DRIVERS LICENSE OR ID,
IT WILL GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY
00:17:11TO BRING TO THE FORM, TELL YOU
WHERE TO SEND IT, SO YOU STILL
00:17:13CAN PERFORM ALL OF THE WORK
ONLINE AND JUST PRINT IT OUT AND
00:17:18MAIL IT IN WITH THE LIVE
SIGNATURE.
00:17:20LIKE MOST OTHER STATES, FLORIDA,
WHAT THEY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER
00:17:27STILL REQUIRES THE STATE DRIVERS
LICENSE.
00:17:28YOU NEED TO GET THE PHOTO FILE
OF THE VOTER SIGNATURE FROM THE
00:17:32DMV.
KAREN: I WANT TO ASK YOU REAL
00:17:34QUICK SOMETHING REPRESENTATIVE
CLIENT WAS TALKING ABOUT COME
00:17:38AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION, WHEN ANY
TIME YOU ARE 18, YOU GET YOUR
00:17:43LICENSE, YOU ARE REGISTERED TO
VOTE.
00:17:44WHY SHOULDN'T OHIO DO THAT?
SEN. LAROSE: IT IS AN
00:17:47INTERESTING QUESTION,
INTERESTING CONVERSATION.
00:17:51I'M OPEN TO IT, BUT I ALSO HEAR
FROM A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO
00:17:53REALLY BELIEVE THAT CHOOSING NOT
TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS THEIR
00:17:55RIGHT AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT IN MANY STATES WHERE
00:17:58THEY HAVE AUTOMATIC ID AS
AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION,
00:18:04OPT-INCOME OPT-OUT QUESTION, BUT
FOR CERTAIN RELIGIOUS
00:18:08COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING MAYBE
SOME GROUPS IN THE AMISH
00:18:10COMMUNITY, THEY MAY CONSIDER
THEIR OBLIGATION NOT TO BE PART
00:18:16OF THE PROCESS AND THEY DON'T
WANT TO BE REGISTERED TO VOTE
00:18:17EVEN INADVERTENTLY.
THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT EXIST
00:18:21AROUND THAT.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS IS WE
00:18:22NEED TO TALK ABOUT AS IT RELATES
TO THE REPRESENTATIVE'S BILL,
00:18:31THAT REGISTERING TO VOTE IS
CREATED IN OUR STATE
00:18:32CONSTITUTION.
WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK TO MAKE
00:18:33AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION, IT MAY
HAVE TO BE A CONSTITUTIONAL
00:18:36AMENDMENT BECAUSE SOME FUNCTIONS
OF THAT ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE
00:18:40STATE CONSTITUTION, SUCH AS
REGISTERING TO VOTE 30 DAYS
00:18:42BEFORE THE ELECTION.
KAREN: I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH
00:18:47ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED
LAST FALL IN YOUR BACKYARD PIT
00:18:49$900 WERE NOT COUNTED BECAUSE
THEY ARE RIGHT -- IN YOUR
00:18:52BACKYARD.
900 BALLOTS WERE NOT COUNTED
00:18:56BECAUSE THEY ARRIVED WITH THAT
POSTMARK.
00:18:59WHEN HE TO HAPPEN TO FIX THIS?
-- WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO FIX
00:19:04THIS?
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT
00:19:07THEY WERE VOTING AND THEY
WEREN'T.
00:19:08REP. CLYDE: RIGHT AND WHAT THEY
WERE EFFECTIVELY
00:19:14DISENFRANCHISED, BECAUSE WHAT
GOOD IS YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IF
00:19:15YOUR VOTE ISN'T COUNTED?
I'VE PROPOSED 2 SOLUTIONS.
00:19:19ONE HIS MY BILL, HOUSE BILL
309, WHICH WOULD COUNT VOTES
00:19:27THAT COME IN BASED ON THE DATE
THAT IS SUPPLIED BY THE VOTER,
00:19:33IF THERE IS NO MARKING OR
POSTMARKED FROM THE POST OFFICE.
00:19:37THAT IS MODELED ON WHAT OTHER
STATES DO WHEN THEY ARE FACED
00:19:40WITH THIS SITUATION.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE RUN OUT OF
00:19:44TIME FOR A BILL TO PASS TO BE IN
EFFECT FOR THE MARCH PRIMARY.
00:19:46I THINK A GOOD SOLUTION WOULD BE
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE JON
00:19:51HUSTED TO ISSUE A DIRECTIVE TO
SOLVE THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL AND
00:19:56GET RID OF THE VAGUENESS ABOUT
WHAT CONSTITUTES A POSTMARK AND
00:20:00MAKE SURE THESE VOTES ARE
COUNTED.
00:20:01KAREN: SENATOR LAROSE, YOUR
THOUGHTS?
00:20:02SEN. LAROSE: YES, A COUPLE
THINGS HERE.
00:20:07THERE ARE TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
ON THIS.
00:20:10ONE IS THAT WE GO BACK TO THE
OLD STANDARD OF IF YOUR BALLOT
00:20:13DOESN'T ARRIVE BY ELECTION DAY,
THEN IT DOESN'T COUNT.
00:20:14THAT HAS BEEN CALLED FOR BY
NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS IN SOME
00:20:24CASES COULD I DON'T THINK THAT
IS THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO.
00:20:26HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THIS
POSTMARK ISSUE?
00:20:28ONE IS SMALLER ENVELOPES.
THE SMALL ENVELOPES THAT SOME
00:20:33COUNTIES USE -- CUYAHOGA COUNTY,
FOR EXAMPLE, GOING THROUGH THE
00:20:38AUTOMATED POSTAGE MACHINE AND
I'VE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE WAY
00:20:42THE POSTAL SERVICE SORTS MAIL IN
THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS.
00:20:43IF IT GOES TO THE MACHINE, IT
GETS THE POSTMARK PUT ON IT.
00:20:50IT HAS TO BE HAND CANCELED, AND
AS WE HAVE FOUND -- TOO MANY OF
00:20:57US THIS WAS A SURPRISE.
NOT EVERY ONE OF THOSE GETS
00:21:00CANCELED.
THE SMALLER ENVELOPE IS ONE
00:21:03COMPONENT.
SOMETHING ELSE IS THE BARCODE
00:21:06THAT I KNOW THE REPRESENTATIVE
HAS TALKED ABOUT AS WELL.
00:21:10MANY MORE OF THE ENVELOPES
RECEIVED THIS LITTLE BARCODE,
00:21:15AND IF YOU HAVE EVER GOTTEN
SOMETHING AND YOU LOOK AT THE
00:21:17BOTTOM AND THERE IS THIS STRANGE
BARCODE ON IT -- IF YOU DECODE
00:21:20THAT BARCODE, IT INDICATES THE
DATE IT WAS SENT.
00:21:23SOME CREATIVE WORK BY THE
CUYAHOGA COUNTY BOARD OF
00:21:27ELECTIONS FOUND OUT THAT YOU CAN
BUY THIS LITTLE MACHINE THAT
00:21:29SCANNED IT AND TELLS YOU WHEN IT
WAS SENT.
00:21:35UNDER CURRENT LAW, NOT
INTERPRETED AS A POSTMARK FOR
00:21:36THE PURPOSES OF THE LAW.
I HAVE DRAFTED AN AMENDMENT.
00:21:40I ASKED THE HOUSE TO CONSIDER IT
IN THE ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION
00:21:46BILL SO IT COULD BE IN EFFECT BY
THE TIME THE GENERAL ELECTION
00:21:49OCCURS THIS YEAR THAT WOULD
ALLOW COUNTIES TO READ THE
00:21:51BARCODE AND COUNT IT AS A
POSTMARK.
00:21:54THE CHALLENGE IS IF WE ALLOW IT,
IT REQUIRES EVERY COUNTY TO MAKE
00:21:59THIS INVESTMENT OF THE LITTLE
$500 MACHINE TO READ OF THOSE,
00:22:04AND FOR SOME OF OUR SMALLER
COUNTIES, THAT MAY BE A BURDEN.
00:22:08IT IS A CONVERSATION I'M HAVING
WITH THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE
00:22:11CURRENTLY BUT IT IS ONE SOLUTION
OUT THERE.
00:22:12KAREN: FINALLY, WHAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE BEFORE THE FALL ELECTION
00:22:15WHEN WE GET ALL THIS ATTENTION
AND MEDIA AND EVERYTHING?
00:22:18WHEN USED TO BE DONE? -- WHAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE?
00:22:22ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE
EARLY VOTING WINDOW, TOO LONG OR
00:22:27TOO SHORT?
THE HOURS PEOPLE WILL VOTE ON
00:22:29THE WEEKENDS OR EVENINGS?
REP. CLYDE: FIRST OF ALL, WE
00:22:34NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
ENSURE THAT EVERY OHIOAN WHO IS
00:22:37ELIGIBLE IS REGISTERED TO VOTE.
WE NEED TO RESTORE PEOPLE WHO
00:22:42ARE WRONGFULLY PURGED FROM THE
ROLLS, ADOPT ONLINE VOTER
00:22:47REGISTRATION AND MAKE THE VOTER
REGISTRATION PROCESS IS EASY AS
00:22:50POSSIBLE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE
00:22:55ACCESS TO THE POLLS.
WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH WEEKEND
00:22:58AND EVENING HOURS.
KAREN: DO YOU THINK THE
00:23:03SECRETARY OF STATE'S DIRECTIVE
FROM LAST TIME AROUND GIVES
00:23:05PEOPLE ENOUGH HOURS?
REP. CLYDE: WE FOUGHT IN COURT
00:23:07TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THOSE
EVENING AND WEEKEND HOURS, AND
00:23:10I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH
GOING INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL
00:23:13ELECTION AND WON'T SEE ANY
TINKERING WITH THOSE HOURS AND
00:23:17THAT ACCESS.
FINALLY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
00:23:22HAVE THE PROVISIONS IN PLACE TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S VOTE IS
00:23:28COUNTED.
WE HAVE AN UNFORTUNATELY HIGH
00:23:29RATE OF THROWING OUT ABSENTEE
BALLOTS AND PROVISIONAL BALLOTS
00:23:34FOR SILLY REASONS THAT ARE NOT
LOGICAL.
00:23:37WE KNOW WHO THE VOTER IS, WE
KNOW THEY ARE ELIGIBLE.
00:23:38BUT FOR MINOR REASONS WE ARE
THROWING OUT THEIR VOTE.
00:23:41WE NEED TO STOP THAT PRACTICE
AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S VOTE IS
00:23:44COUNTED.
KAREN: ANYTHING FINALLY BEFORE
00:23:47THE ELECTION?
SEN. LAROSE: THE QUESTION IS
00:23:51WHAT WE NEED TO DO BEFORE THE
ELECTION AND THE ANSWER IS,
00:23:53LEGISLATIVELY, NOT TOO MUCH.
WE DON'T WANT TO TINKER WITH
00:23:57THINGS WHEN WE ARE CLOSE TO AN
ELECTION LIKE THIS.
00:23:58WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS GET THE
ONLINE REGISTRATION BILL PASSED.
00:24:01IT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED FOR YEARS
AND IT IS NOT A NOVEL IDEA.
00:24:06MANY STATES HAVE DONE IT.
I THINK IF THE HOUSE COULD PASS
00:24:08THAT, THEN POTENTIALLY THERE
COULD BE ROOM FOR LEGISLATION
00:24:12CAN WHETHER IT IS AN AMENDMENT
TO MY BILL OR WHAT HAVE YOU,
00:24:14THAT ADDRESSES THIS MAIL
PROBLEMS SPECIFICALLY, THE
00:24:19DEFINITION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A
POST-MARKET BEYOND THAT -- WHAT
00:24:23CONSTITUTES A POST-MARKET BEYOND
THAT, WE HAVE DEDICATED WOMEN
00:24:29WHO WORK OUR ELECTIONS IN THE
STATE OF OHIO, THE UNSUNG HEROES
00:24:32WHO COME IN AT 5:30 IN THE
MORNING AND START PLUGGING IN
00:24:35MACHINES AND SETTING UP VOTING
BOOTHS.
00:24:36THESE FOLKS ARE EXCELLENT AND
THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND WE NEED
00:24:39MORE PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER TO BE
BOOTH WORKERS ON ELECTION DAY.
00:24:42THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF THEM IN A
NUMBER OF OUR COUNTIES.
00:24:46THOSE FOLKS MAKE IT LOOK EASY.
WE ONLY HEAR ABOUT IT WHEN
00:24:50THINGS GO WRONG BUT ALL OVER THE
STATE OF OHIO THOSE PEOPLE ARE
00:24:55DOING GOOD WORK TO CONDUCT OUR
ELECTIONS AND THEY SHOULD
00:24:56RECEIVE OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE
PATRIOTIC ACT OF BEING PART OF
00:24:58THE ELECTIONS.
ALSO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AS
00:25:03MANY PEOPLE AS CAN BE ARE
REGISTERED TO VOTE.
00:25:05BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'VE BEEN
18-YEAR-OLD LITTLE BROTHER AND
00:25:08WHEN HE TURNED 18 A COUPLE MONTH
AGO, I HAD A VOTER REGISTRATION
00:25:10FOR HIM.
IN HIS BIRTHDAY CARD.
00:25:17I SAID "I WILL SIT HERE AND MAKE
YOU FEEL IT OUT."
00:25:23AS FAMILY MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO BE
00:25:24TALKING TO OUR 18-YEAR-OLD
FRIENDS OR GRANDCHILDREN OR
00:25:27PEOPLE DOWN THE STREET THAT YOU
NEED TO BE REGISTERED TO VOTE
00:25:32AND THAT IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP,
YOU NEED TO VOTE NEXT.
00:25:34THERE WAS A LOT TO BE DONE TO
MAKE SURE THAT OHIO CONTINUES TO
00:25:36BE A LEADER IN ELECTIONS.
IT IS A STATE THAT IS GOING TO
00:25:40HAVE THE EYES OF THE NATION UPON
IT, AND LARGELY WE DO A LOT OF
00:25:43THINGS IN OHIO.
WE NEED TO CELEBRATE THAT.
00:25:47IT IS CONVENIENT TO VOTE IN OHIO
AND THAT IS SOMETHING A LOT OF
00:25:49PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS RECOGNIZE.
KAREN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
00:25:51BEING HERE.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
00:25:53FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO PUBLIC
RADIO AND TELEVISION, THANKS FOR
00:25:55WATCHING.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS,
00:25:57MAKE COMMENTS, OR WATCH THIS
WEEK'S SHOW OR EARLIER EPISODES,
00:25:59PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
STATENEWS.ORG, OR WATCH ON THE
00:26:04OHIO CHANNEL'S WEBSITE OR AT
IDEASTREAM.ORG/OHIO.
00:26:07AND YOU CAN FOLLOW JO INGLES,
ANDY CHOW, AND ME ON TWITTER.
00:26:10AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT
TIME FOR "THE STATE OF OHIO."
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00:26:41THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE
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Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions