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DNC Report: Ohio Voters Plagued by Systemic Problems in 2004

Report: Ohio Voters Plagued by Systemic Problems on Election Day 2004 An exhaustive five-month investigative study of the troubled presidential election of 2004 in Ohio has concluded that the state's voters encountered widespread system failure, with more than a quarter of voters - and 52% of African Americans - reporting significant problems at the polls. According to the report, which was presented to DNC Chairman Howard Dean at a news conference today, the systemic problems plaguing Ohio's voting process included: significant evidence of voter suppression, negligent and poorly trained election officials, long lines, problems with registration status, polling locations, absentee ballots and provisional ballots and unlawful identification requirements at the polls. Rather than challenge or question the results of the election, the report establishes a factual basis for developing a comprehensive agenda of reforms needed to ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to vote and to have that vote counted. "Democracy only works when citizens believe election outcomes actually reflect their choices," said Donna Brazile, chair of the Voting Rights Institute and the project's leader. "Our goal was not to question the election result, but to determine whether or not every eligible voter in Ohio who sought to vote was able to cast a ballot and have it properly counted. The data clearly indicates that the system failed far too many Ohio voters." The team, which included leading election experts, voting technology specialists and public opinion researchers, that authored the report focused on the legitimate questions and concerns raised about the conduct of the election and presented to DNC Chairman Howard Dean a set of 23 recommendations for improving election administration across the nation. The proposed election reforms include: state codification of practices to ensure nondiscriminatory access to enough voting machines, adoption of legislation to establish clear and uniform standards for voter registration, the creation and implementation of statewide voter lists, and making voter suppression a criminal offense in all 50 states. The report also recommends that "touch screen" voting machines not be used, instead advocating use of precinct-tabulated optically scanned paper ballots that give each voter a chance to correct errors on the ballot. "Our democracy depends on voters having confidence that their voice is heard when they cast their ballot," said DNC Chairman Howard Dean. "The professional and thorough work of our team indicates that voters' confidence in the system is declining - and for good reason. I look forward to reviewing the proposed reforms and working with federal, state and local lawmakers across America to implement these improvements and restore voter confidence in the electoral process and our democracy." According to the report, problems plaguing the Ohio election administration process in 2004 included: More than one in four Ohio voters reported problems with voting, including ballot issues, and/or intimidation at the polling place. Nearly a quarter of Ohio voters report that their experience in 2004 has made them less confident about the reliability of elections in Ohio. Identification requirements were improperly administered across Ohio, but young and African American voters were disproportionately affected. Under Ohio law, only newly registered voters who did not provide identification when registering, should have been asked for their ID at the polls. But on Election Day, while only 7 percent of voters were newly registered, 37% of voters said they were asked to present identification. African American voters reported waiting an average of 52 minutes before voting, while voters overall reported waiting only 18 minutes. "While this report focuses on the experience of Ohio voters, there's ample evidence that many voters across the country encountered similar systemic problems when they attempted to exercise their constitutionally protected right to vote. The Democratic Party remains committed to protecting the voting rights of every single voter in every single community in America," said Dean. "Democracy at Risk: The Ohio Election" will be broadly distributed to members of Congress and other elected leaders, DNC officials, state party leaders and activists. The report will be posted on the official Voting Rights Institute (VRI) website to help educate citizens about what's at stake in the next election. To read the report, visit http://www.democrats.org/vri/ohioreport/index.html