Election-reform measure warrants governor’s veto

If the Ohio Republican Party wants to know why it will no longer have a majority in the Ohio House come January, it need only contemplate the purely partisan political act by GOP leaders in the General Assembly with regard to so-called election reform. The absence of intelligent, knowledgeable debate on an issue of such importance spoke volumes about Republicans’ legislative priorities and what they perceive as important to the people of Ohio.

Despite pleas from Republican and Democratic elections officials from around the state not to rush the bill through in the waning days of the 127th General Assembly, the leadership did just that — while not caring that there was no Democratic support for the measure. Election reform should not be a partisan issue, but that’s exactly what it became in the hands of the majority.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat who has received high-praise statewide and nationally for restoring Ohio’s reputation that was damaged after the 2004 presidential election when Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell was the top elections official, had appealed to the legislature to slow down. She warned that changes to existing law could result in legal challenges and cause confusion at the county level.

Brunner acknowledges that there is room for improving the way Ohio conducts elections, but insists that all stakeholders must have a voice.

She hosted a summit conference in December attended by elections officials and others from around the state to review the primary and general elections — compared with four years ago, Ohio received high marks from various nonpartisan organizations — and to discuss potential changes. Another summit is scheduled for February, after which a report will be submitted to Gov. Ted Strickland and the General Assembly.

Ramifications

According to a spokesman for Brunner, the report will outline “thoughtful and deliberate ways to improve elections for the voters” of Ohio. Federal laws governing voter registration, ballot access and voting systems must be considered.

In addition, there are grass-roots organizations committed to expanding the voter registration rolls in the country and to improving ballot accessibility.

That is why last week’s hurried passage of the so-called election reform law is deserving of criticism and rejection.

Gov. Strickland has said he will veto the measure when it gets to his desk. He has no choice, given the way the bill was handled.

The Ohio Republican Party would do well to consider this political reality: In giving Democrats the majority in the House, voters of Ohio made it clear they are tired of the heavy-handed approach to legislating practiced by the Republicans. They want bipartisanship, which is what a House controlled by the Democrats and a Senate controlled by Republicans should provide.

There is also the issue of priorities. At a time of an imploding state budget and dire warnings from the governor of major cuts in spending next year, GOP leaders in the General Assembly should have been discussing Ohio’s fiscal health. Instead they chose to pursue a partisan political goal.