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Editorial: Confusion Mars the Oberlin Polls
After weeks of get-out-the-vote efforts by students — tabling in Wilder, knocking on dorm room doors, a campus-wide e-mail, a Blackboard notice, a brief in the Source and a front page Review story — it was surprising to see the large number of confused students on Ohio’s primary election day this past Tuesday. The problem is with the system. First of all, former Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell’s laws are unnecessarily cumbersome. Ohio’s voter ID laws require every registered voter to present proof of residence — this seems like a direct attack on college students from out-of-state who tend to vote Democrat. It looks like a conspiratorial move from the top down to keep Ohio as red as can be. Despite all efforts to explain these laws to students, something didn’t get through. Two of the most essential pieces of information weren’t made clear to many students. For one, if you send in for an absentee ballot you must vote absentee, leaving the only other option to cast your vote provisionally, in person, at the polls. Also, you must re-register after each time you move, on- or off-campus, in order to be eligible to vote either absentee or normally at the polls. Then there’s the hectic nature of Election Day itself. Voters were stressed at the polls and complaints surfaced about election officials, often older people who are sweet, but not quite up-to-date. Early Tuesday morning at First Church, students were being refused their vote; student volunteer Colin Koffel had to go, and as he said, “show [the poll workers] the law.” They appeared misinformed, and although such volunteers are essential, they added to the confusion. It’s unclear what should be done to improve the process for the General Election. Student efforts should absolutely continue and the College should concentrate its efforts come November to make sure that clear, up-to-date information is readily available. Editorials are the responsibility of the Review editorial board – the Editors-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Production Manager and Commentary Editor – and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Review staff.
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