NOV. ELECTION In voting booth, lots of reading awaits

There are five statewide issues -- with an average of 562 words each.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Local elections officials are worried about the possibility of long lines at the polls Nov. 8, when voters have to read lengthy explanations of five statewide issues before casting their ballots.
"There are going to be people who could order Domino's and have the pizza ready by the time they finish in the voting booth," said Janet Clair, director of the Lake County Board of Elections. "This is ridiculous."
Despite the possibility of delays, the detailed wording is needed, said James Lee, a spokesman for Ohio's chief elections officer, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell.
All five ballot issues involve proposed constitutional amendments, and four started as initiative petitions that could drastically change how elections are conducted.
"When we start putting complicated issues on the ballot, the length can become quite enormous," Lee said.
Each issue runs an average of 562 words -- five times longer than the gay-marriage ban proposal that was the only statewide question on last November's ballot.
Clarity, not a long explanation, should be the goal, said Marilyn Jacobcik, director of the Lorain County Board of Elections.
"Ultimately, what we want is something voters can read and understand easily," Jacobcik said.
Issues on ballot
The Ohio Ballot Board adopted the ballot language in August. The issues include a $2 billion bond package for road projects and high-tech jobs; granting all electors the option of voting absentee; lowering limits on state campaign contributions; creating a commission to approve legislative districts; and establishing a board to replace the secretary of state in administering elections.
In Summit County, where voters use a punch-card system with a limited number of pages, officials will "have to do something unique to conserve space" so everything makes the ballot, said Bryan Williams, director of the board of elections.