Conflict between spending, election reform hurts voters

E D I T O R I A L

Political pundits continue to say Ohio is the 2004 version of Florida from the 2000 presidential election.

They say we are sitting in the state that will decide the winner of the presidency in November. We hold the pivotal 20 electoral votes that will send John Kerry to the White House or bring President Bush back for another term.

You would think our Legislature would not want an embarrassing repeat of Florida's continuous recounts and legal wrangling in 2000.

But we may have that before the election starts.

Lawmakers are questioning the expense and usefulness of Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell's $15 million voter education ad campaign on new voting machines.

After the 2000 election, the Help America Vote Act was passed by Congress. It requires states to implement systems that allow voters to see how they voted and recast their ballot if they wish. The systems also must prohibit people from casting votes twice and allow votes to be tallied on the precinct level.

When Congress passed the law, 69 Ohio counties used punch-card ballots, and two used mechanical lever machines. Several counties are making the switch to electronic touch-pad or optical scan machines, which read pencil marks made next to voters' choices.

On Thursday, a committee of Democratic and Republican lawmakers asked for more information about the voting systems and whether they are secure.

Blackwell, a Republican, planned to ask the state Controlling Board today for approval to spend about $133 million in federal money allocated for election reform in time for November's election. Part of that request included a $15.3 million public information campaign to explain to Ohio voters how the new systems work.

Blackwell's fellow Republicans, who control the House and Senate, have said they will turn down his request while the review continues.

Legislators need to be critical about state spending, but voters need to be educated about any new ballot process.

Either way, a decision must be made and we must move forward.

The voters are caught in the middle.