Reply #25: OH: Blackwell opponents criticize new rules [View All]

The Enquirer
Last Updated: 5:24 am | Friday, June 9, 2006

BY JON CRAIG | ENQUIRER COLUMBUS BUREAU
COLUMBUS - Democrats - and the New York Times - are hurling charges of voter suppression at Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, the Cincinnati Republican running for governor.

Carlo LoParo, Blackwell's campaign spokesman, said the secretary of state is just implementing election rules passed by legislators in House Bill 3, which became law May 2.

"Democrats are now engaging in a hysterical attempt to mislead their traditional urban voting base," he said.

Rep. Ted Strickland, the Democrat running for governor, demanded Thursday that Blackwell step aside from any election duties involving the governor's race. He also asked Blackwell to reverse his office's recent rulings that, according to Strickland, are hindering voter registration drives.

As Ohio's chief elections officer, Blackwell is responsible for issuing rules governing the voter registration process, and refereeing challenges and disputes.

A few activists have accused Blackwell, who was co-chairman of President Bush's 2004 presidential campaign in Ohio, of helping rig that election, a charge resuscitated by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Rolling Stone magazine.

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