Secretary of state’s plan could restore voter trust

As the debate over the reliability and security of the touch-screen voting system in Ohio moves to the General Assembly, which it must, it is important for everyone to remember what’s at stake: The state’s reputation nationwide.

In 2004, the myriad problems on election day in November raised doubts about the results of the presidential contest, which was won by President Bush. His victory in Ohio put him over the top for a second term.

Since then, Ohio has been the target of numerous national studies and partisan accusations. Democrats around the country have criticized former Republican Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell of not paying close enough attention to the preparation for the election and for being too involved in Bush’s re-election campaign.

Blackwell was the co-chairman of the president’s campaign in Ohio.

While his successor, Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, stops short of suggesting any collusion between the Bush campaign and Blackwell to suppress the Democratic vote, she does make it clear that there was a lot that was not done right to ensure a trouble-free election.

Priority

That is why she has made this year’s election her top priority. As a result of the findings of a $1.9 million study by corporate and academic scientists of Ohio’s voting systems, Brunner has decided that the 57 counties with touch-screen electronic machines should switch to paper ballots for the November general election.

And while the secretary of state intends to solicit the support of the Republican-controlled General Assembly for the changes she intends to make to lay the foundation for a problem-less election, Brunner is firm in her contention that the status quo is unacceptable.

If Republicans stand in the way of her replacing the touch-screen system — one of the manufacturers is Diebold, whose chief executive officer said in 2004 that he would do everything in his power to ensure Bush’s re-election — Brunner will use her statutory authority to decertify the system.

We hope it does not come to that. Ohio does not need to be embroiled in a partisan battle over the conduct of the election. Just as it was four years ago, this state is one of the key battlegrounds in the presidential contest, which means the eyes of the nation will again be upon it.

The folks in Columbus had better get their act together to ensure that Ohio’s already damaged image isn’t destroyed.

Thus far, Brunner has shown the leadership necessary to ensure that every registered voter in Ohio has the opportunity to cast a ballot.

There should be no impediments to voting.