For secretary of state: Husted

After the editorial thrashing we’ve given Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted over the issue of ballot accessibility, regular readers of this space may be wondering why we’re endorsing him for a second four-year term.

The reason has to do with Husted’s overall performance in office, especially with the way he conducted the 2012 presidential election with the entire nation watching — just as it did in 2008 and 2004.

The 2004 presidential contest in Ohio was such a debacle that the federal government, along with national voting rights organizations, the League of Women Voters and other groups investigated, uncovered major problems and demanded changes.

Things have been improving since then, and confidence in the sanctity of the ballot box in Ohio is being restored.

That said, we have strongly disagreed with the secretary of state, who is the chief elections officer, on the state’s voting procedures.

While he insists that the 28 days of early voting, including two Saturdays and a Sunday, and voting by mail (absentee ballots) have put Ohio in a class of its own, we strongly advocated even greater access.

We favored 35 days of early voting and the Golden Week, during which an individual could register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day.

But Husted took the position that making the changes ordered by federal Judge Peter C. Economus and upheld by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would be too disruptive and would upset the uniformity that now exists.

He took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which stayed the lower court’s ruling.

An opportunity

Thus, the Nov. 4 general election is being conducted under the existing rules, but there is now the opportunity for an objective, thoughtful discussion about ballot accessibility in Ohio.

Republican Husted’s opponent in the general election is Democratic state Sen. Nina Turner, who is passionate about making the voting process as convenient as possible for all Ohioans, but especially for those who have been disenfranchised in the past, such as minorities.

Turner is conducting a hard-hitting campaign against Husted, but with the 2016 presidential contest looming, we believe the incumbent is best positioned to put together another successful, relatively trouble-free election.

Given the uncertainties that surround this race, we were struck by comments from a Democratic Party insider in Mahoning County about the Republican incumbent.

Joyce Kale-Pesta, director of the county Board of Elections, had high praise for Husted and his office, saying the staff is knowledgeable and is always accessible to local elections officials.

Kale-Pesta, who has been involved in politics for a long time, also said Husted works closely with all county boards of election and is sensitive to their particular needs.

We believe that such cooperation is essential if the public is to have faith in the election process.

The Vindicator, therefore, endorses Husted for a second four-year term.