The State of Ohio is a weekly news program spotlighting the latest happenings at the Statehouse, in the Governor’s office, at the Ohio Supreme Court and throughout the Buckeye State. Award-winning host Karen Kasler presents viewers with unique analysis and thoughtful perspective on important issues of statewide interest through interviews with political leaders, newsmakers, experts and Ohio citizens. The State of Ohio is the only TV show to bring to Ohioans the latest news about taxes, voting, education and other critical matters from where it all happens -- Capitol Square.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Topics: Politics, Other
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Election day is still more than four weeks away, and not only are the campaigns heating up, but voters are heading down to polling locations to start casting ballots. This year marks the first time that any Ohioan can vote absentee in a presidential race, and early voting is being tested around the state.

The chief critic of part of this early voting effort is the Ohio Republican Party, which has battled Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on several fronts. The Ohio GOP filed a lawsuit to close the window in which first-time voters could register and cast ballots between September 30, the start of early voting, and October 6, the close of voter registration. Ohio Republican Party Deputy Director Kevin DeWine explains the GOP’s concerns, and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner defends her directives.

On the front lines of voting have always been the poll workers in the precincts and the groups that work to make information available to voters. Deidra Reese, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio and Matt Damschroder, the deputy director and former director of the Franklin County Board of Elections, talk about the continuation of early voting.

And finally, there are many opportunities for voters to learn about the issues before going to the polls, early or not. Among them are a series of election forums being produced by public radio station WMUB in Oxford in partnership with the Dayton Daily News. This forum was on energy, the environment and gas prices - future forums deal with race, religion, age and gender in the presidential race, jobs and the economy, the Ohio Attorney General’s race and issues on the statewide ballot, and foreign policy, the war in Iraq and national security.

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