OH Reports "Brisk & Orderly" Voting Status Update

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has issued a brief mid-morning update on the status of voting in Ohio on Election Day. According to reports into the Citizen’s Response Center, voting in Ohio has been brisk and orderly on this historic day.

“Our office has spent 22 months preparing for this day, in partnership with Ohio’s bipartisan boards of elections. Thanks to that hard work and cooperation, Ohioans are seeing the success of our preparation today, voting in record numbers in an orderly and efficient system,” Secretary Brunner said.

Highlights of Ohioans’ voting experience as of 10 a.m. EST:

* The maximum wait time as reported to the office is no more than 1 hour in most large precincts

* The longest average wait time reported to the office is approximately 1 hour in Lucas County

* Sporadic machine issues have been reported – primarily Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail jams that are easily fixed and some instances of precinct-based optical scanners that are not working, but voters are still able to place their ballots in a secure box for scanning later. Reports indicate poll workers are quickly fixing the hiccups and are offering voters backup paper ballots in touch-screen voting machine counties.

* The two-line directive, one for touch-screen voting machines and one for back-up paper ballots, is keeping lines moving.

* Some voters have been confused about Ohio’s ID requirements, so the Secretary of State is working with boards of elections to reinforce poll worker training on eligible ID.

* There are widespread reports of voters choosing back-up paper ballots.

Election Day resources kit:

* Ohio Elections Factsheet – a quick reference for frequently asked questions about Ohio’s bipartisan elections system.

* Briefing on enhancements to Ohio’s elections systems since 2004, including voter ID, provisional ballots, voter challenges, long lines, voting security, and poll worker training.

* Summary of accomplishments for 2008

* Memorandum regarding the cost of elections reforms and enhancements

* Absentee voting report for the “overlap” period

* Absentee voting report through 10/24/2008

* Voting systems map for the State of Ohio

* ADA compliance visits map for the State of Ohio

* Citizens Response Center Facts

All resources are available online at http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/mediaCenter/mediaguide.aspx

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