Did Ohio crossover voters break the law?
A story is starting to make the rounds regarding the Republican voters who switched to Democrats at the polls in Ohio in order to help Hillary take the win. Apparently, more than 16,000 Republicans switched parties at the polls in Ohio.
Wired has the full story.
A reader tipped me off to an issue that’s come up with crossover voters in Ohio. It seems that some Republican voters have bragged online that they voted Democratic ballots in the Ohio March 4th primary in order to influence the outcome of the presidential election. Essentially, they wanted to help Hillary Clinton win the Democratic nomination over Barack Obama because they think she’s the weaker candidate and would lose against Republican John McCain in November.
This is where the law comes in to play.
Ohio’s revised election code includes an election falsification clause (Revised Code 3513.20), which says that if a voter who changes parties is challenged by poll workers as to the sincerity of his change of heart and also signs an affidavit stating that he supports the principles of the party to which he’s changing — when in fact he doesn’t support them — then he would be committing election falsification. Election falsification is a felony that is punishable by six to twelve months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
This should be interesting to watch unfold.
Nicky Cheese Says:
God that’s retarded! What does it matter if you do or don’t fundamentally support the “principles of the party” you vote for!? You can’t be pragmatic with your vote?
It’s completely ridiculous. Most votes are purist. Greens vote for Dems and Libs vote for Republicans; neither supports the other’s “principles”….it’s simply better than the viable alternative.
Election “falsification”. That’s rich. How about they concentrate on voter fraud instead…
Posted on March 21st, 2008 at 8:21 am
Nicky Cheese Says:
Ah. I meant to say that most votes *aren’t purist.
Posted on March 21st, 2008 at 8:22 am
Did Ohio crossover voters break the law? Says:
[...] webweaver wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIt seems that some Republican voters have bragged online that they voted Democratic ballots in the Ohio March 4th primary in order to influence the outcome of the presidential election. Essentially, they wanted to help Hillary Clinton … [...]
Posted on March 21st, 2008 at 8:26 am
libertyisforme Says:
First, let’s just say that voters were sincere in getting Clinton delegates rather than Obama.
Secondly, stating support for the principles of the party when changing affiliation…sounds like Nazi Germany to me.
Posted on March 21st, 2008 at 11:42 am
Beasley's Brother Says:
No of course not. Rush, in his mind, was trying to encourage people to vote. Many counties in the suburbs are dominated by a political party that if you don’t in some circumstances ask for a different ballot, you get disenfranchised. Maybe Rush believes that the Dems are going to win no matter what? I can not stand Rush Limbaugh and believes that his uneducated views do not help matters on either side. However, to suggest that some of his views are criminal are for one, against the first amendment and second, he is an entertainer. It is up to the people to make the decision.
Posted on March 26th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Chris Arndt Says:
“uneducated”?
Chris Arndt’s last blog post..what is this inequality health thing about?
Posted on March 28th, 2008 at 11:55 am